Open Source for Museum Professionals

Who Am I?

Rob Stephenson

biologist

Curator, Tech Virtual

What is Open Source?

When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. … freedom to distribute copies … (and charge for this service if you wish), … (to) receive source code, … (to) change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs….

- GNU Public License

Powerful, reliable software and improved technology are useful byproducts of freedom, but the freedom to have a community is important in its own right.

- Richard Stallman

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Defined

FOSS/Open Source Principles

Freedom to use

Freedom to redistribute

Freedom to adapt and improve

Freedom to release improvements, so entire community benefits

Obligation to contribute back to the community

Sharing and Collaboration are Basic Human Values

Open Source Museum Exhibits

Links

• http://TheTechVirtual.org

• The Tech Virtual in Second Life: on The Tech Island

• Me: Rob Stephenson, rstephenson@thetech.org

Museums in a Virtual World - Are You Serious?

Is this:• A scientific experiment?• A commercial venture?• A joke?• Chasing a fad?

Why The Tech Museum is in Second Life

1. Access and interaction. Reaching visitors that can’t come to San José.

2. Rapid prototyping. Using SL’s 3-D tools to test exhibit concepts, gallery designs.

3. Open source design. Teams of strangers compete to design exhibits. We choose the best and build them for the real museum.

Access and Interaction

Rapid Prototyping

1 23

4

The Story of an

Open Source

Museum Exhibit

Exhibit Creation Process

idea & sketch

museum floor

Virtual

thetechvirtual.org

Second Life

EOD

Economics

• Currently funded by a grant from Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation.

Cost of building one new interactive exhibit:

Traditional method 18 months $60,000 US

SL/Open Source 6 months $40,000 US

The Future

• Rapid exhibit turnover

• More modular exhibits

• A bazaar for exhibit ideas

• An open source exhibit economy

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