Future development

When the eGuide is launched to the public, later in 2005, it will contain entries for around forty "features" - objects or groups of objects. Within these it will be possible also to choose themes, such as ceramics, myths or Christian art. During the visit, a trail can be kept of the items that have been selected, allowing review of the content later in the visit or, eventually, on a home computer.

Gradually the Museum hopes to add more content and develop different types of resource, for example for children and families. It will also explore the possibility of presenting information in different ways for a range of users, including visitors with different access requirements such as British Sign Language.

This is an exciting first step to creating an important new resource for museums to offer their visitors. The experience that the Fitzwilliam has gained so far in working on the project, the feedback from users, as well as the technical and operational lessons, create an excellent foundation for exploring further development and new applications for the eGuide. The Fitzwilliam Museum is seeking new partnerships and funding to consolidate this work and offer creative, innovative solutions to the challenge of opening up access to information and knowledge.