Press Release
November 30, 2016
Contact: Steve Hawkins
Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0754
shawkins@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/historycenter
Oklahoma History Center Utilizing Advanced Beacon Technology
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma History Center joins museums around the world, including the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a handful of others in using Bluetooth technology and smartphones to create a different kind of visitor experience.
The History Center has become one of the few museums in the United States to use beacon technology, an adaptation of a mobile marketing tool that, up to this point, was only used by retailers. Beacon technology was launched for public use in 2013 with the intent of tracking retail shoppers, their preferences and their shopping patterns. Digital Design Services of Green Bay, Wis., has modified this technology to accommodate patrons visiting the History Center. By placing sensors at or near a particular exhibit, the patron has the capability to pull up information on the exhibit on their cell phone, tablet or other personal mobile device. Currently, there are 60 sensors placed both inside and outside the History Center.
To connect with the beacons, visitors can download the Oklahoma History Center App “Explore History” for free from the App Store, enable Bluetooth on their devices, and the beacons located in the galleries will unlock a fun, new way to interact with the exhibits. The staff at the Oklahoma History Center is dedicated to providing positive visitor experiences and strives to engage all types of learners within its exhibits. Using this latest technology, the History Center invites visitors young and old to interact with exhibits while using smartphone technology that has become important to so many people.
The beacons and the app are in the early stages of development. The Oklahoma History Center will continue to add new content and further develop the app to suit visitors’ needs.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
