Mobile technology refers to portable electronic devices like cell phones, MP3 players, and handheld gaming devices. The document discusses how museums can use mobile technology for educational purposes through text-based labels, audio tours, and multimedia content viewed on mobile devices. It also notes potential strengths like engaging audiences and reducing long written labels, but warns of weaknesses like only reaching some visitors and requiring staff resources to develop content.

1. Learning on the go: Mobile Technology Kristen Olson Fall 2008 MUS5420 Museums, Interactive Technologies and Electronic Access http://www.slideshare.net/KristenO

2. Q: What is "Mobile Technology"? A: Any device that is electronic, portable, cordless, wireless, cellular, and handheld.

3. Engine Text Based (the mobile label) Auditory Based (the telling tour) Media Based (film, live label) Hardware PDA Cell Phone Smart Phone MP3 Player GPS/Locator Device Handheld Multimedia/PSP

4. Strengths Teaching the hardware Variety of educationally engaging an audience Reducing amount of long label copy Openness and flexibility Many companies to support hardware http://blog.2modern.com/2008/10/designing-for-e.html

5. Weaknesses Partial audience Staffing (maintenance and development time) Isolation of user Tunnel vision Need more evaluation http://www.woostercollective.com/2008/04/seen_on_the_streets_of_university_city_m.html

6. Questions? Many “how to” case studies Low amount of educational evaluation Quantifiable value to user? http://blog.modernmechanix.com/issue/?magname=PopularMechanics&magdate=6-1936 From Popular Mechanics Magazine, 1936