Advantages and limitations of interpretive media

medium

advantages

disadvantages

panels

(passive/passive)

simple production, cheap, can be easily repaired, low operational costs

not much information (max. 200 words), low engagement of visitors, become part of the scenery, too
many of them

models

(mostly passive/passive or active)

Create a three dimensional sense of place, object, process etc.

Able to communicate highly complex information very effectively

More immediate and engaging than flat graphics

Limited opportunities for visitor participation

Cost to generate and model

Can require constant maintenance


props

(active/active or passive)

(highly) interactive

multisensory experience

relatively cheap


need further interpretation,n eed protection (e.g. against theft) => extra costs, need maintenance

dioramas & scenic display

(passive/passive)

provide a sense of history and place, events, and personalities;

can engage visitors’ imaginations and create spectacle, can be highly cost effective

offer little or no physical visitor involvement or participation in the media, can be costly to
generate and model, require constant maintenance

audioguides
(active/passive)

portable and unobtrusive,

can provide layers of information

can deliver interpretation in different languages, support management objectives

require staffing support, can be expensive to set-up, present a security risk, do not encourage
visitor communication


audio/video displays

(passive/active)

visualisation, provision of access, possibility to use authentic materiál, create mood, can reach
many visitors at one time

can be disturbing, difficult to update, easy to break down,

recipient does not control the flow of information


interactives

(active/active)

can be tailored to multiples learning styles; provide information at varying levels;

promote visitor participation; can transcend language and culture barriers

computer interactives are expensive, require a lot of maintenance, need to be intuitive to be
effective,

can be target to vandalism or theft

digital media

(all interactions)

can be tailored to multiples learning styles; provide information at varying levels;

promote visitor participation; and can transcend language and culture barriers

computer interactives are expensive; require a lot of maintenance; they need to be intuitive to be
effective,

can be target to vandalism or theft

leaflets, brochures

(passive/passive)

portable, can include detailed content, in different languages, can be sold, souvenir of a visit

can discourage audience participation, require literacy,

must be kept up-to-date,

staff = needs check

live interpretation

(active or passive/active)

provoking response, immediate, change of pace,  intimate,  flexible,  memorable, could be authentic

variable,  inconsistent,  obtrusive,  inefficient,  expensive,  limited group size