Custom software developer Daruma Tech is continuing its expansion into the museum and cultural exhibit space with three new initiatives to equip museums with digital tools to facilitate more meaningful, engaging visitor experiences.
The first of these projects is a joint venture with HW Exhibits, a designer of museum exhibits, to build and develop content for an interactive kiosk for the Parris Island Museum in South Carolina. Located in the historic Parris Island Marine Recruit Depot, the museum highlights the history, traditions, and evolution of the Marine Corps and serves primarily to educate the 19,000 Marine recruits who train at the depot each year, along with visiting families.
For the touch-screen kiosk, Daruma Tech is employing video, written narratives, and quizzes provided by HW Exhibits to create an immersive educational experience. In addition, Daruma Tech is offering guidance on procuring and purchasing appropriate equipment for the kiosk at the optimal specifications. Like the museum’s other exhibits, the kiosk—which will highlight the history of Marine recruitment during the Revolutionary War–will serve as a training tool for recruits studying for written exams as well as a means of educating the general public. The kiosk is a pilot project, and if successful, will be followed by additional digital enhancements at Parris Island.
Read More: Athena Software Releases New and Enhanced Electronic Health Documentation Feature
Daruma Tech’s other two projects, Daruma Tech Academy and two- day digital design workshops, are educational initiatives for the Museum of Discovery and Science, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Both projects evolved from Daruma Tech’s longstanding partnership with Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and the museum’s APP-titude program, in which students learn to create assets for the museum’s free mobile app, available for both Android and iPhone platforms. The APP-titude program provides students the opportunity to earn volunteer service hours, one unit of college credit, and a stipend through an immersion experience at the museum and participate in a three-week, dual-enrollment course in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at FAU. Second-year interns mentor the incoming students, continue working on app development, and introduce museum visitors to the apps. This unique internship, now entering its fifth year, is funded by United Way of Broward County and supported by a coalition of academic, commercial, and non-profit partners, including FAU and Daruma Tech.
The free Museum of Discovery and Science app (also available to other museums) allows guests to explore ten exhibit areas in the Museum (Discovery Center, EcoScapes, Go Green, Storm Center, Prehistoric Florida, Otters at Play, Gems and Minerals, To Fly, Powerful You, and Gizmo City) and features an augmented-reality scavenger hunt through the museum that was designed in collaboration with FAU. In addition, the app provides information on the museum’s programs and IMAX showings, including a virtual tour.