Markus Kruse wrote:
 
>I am just so disappointed by many attitudes about computers and the internet.
>many of the museums do not even want to offer their collections or imagery
>to the world wide community. many of them will fall behind again.
>
>Isn't there an opportunity for a heavy emphasis on globalization and art
>education world wide for these museums??? as well as public relations that
>do not cost much and have a much larger audience than the regular ways of pr.
>
>of course, one of the problems might be that the imagery is not the same as
>the original. as a new york times article this summer listed: pixelization
>of imagery can still be a problem. but then the national gallery in london
>has been working on a project like this for almost a decade?
>
>images are too large for people to download. although the compression
>technology of 1-100 is already developped.
>
>or is it the computer phobia of many of the heads of museums??? many of the
>heads are still the old school.
>
>any comments would be greatly appreciated.
>
 
A few thoughts off the top of my head...
 
Some alternative reasons for "falling behind" might include lack of funds
for new technologies, lack of funds for staff training, staff computer
phobia (not just in the Director's office), and the real problem that a lot
of this stuff isn't really "proven" yet.  There are probably millions of
computer users who can access the internet, but are they truly all
potential members of your audience?  As people get connected, the internet
becomes increasingly diverse and, at the same time, difficult to navigate.
 
 
Personally, I think that communication via the internet will dramatically
change how many of us do business, but many other people aren't so sure
yet.  If you are on the board of a non-profit organization with limited
funds, you have a duty to pursue your mission in a "responsible" way by
sticking to proven methods (that's part of what it means to be a
fiduciary).  This naturally builds a certain amount of conservatism into
the non-profit sector.
 
When I want to change someone's mind (it doesn't matter who it is--my wife,
my boss, my best friend), I find that complaining about their narrow vision
or calling them members of the "old school" gets me nowhere (besides,with
computers, this year's "old school" could be last year's visionaries).  To
change someone's mind, I usually have to demonstrate the positive value of
a different point of view.  Like it or not, many of us will have to sit
back and watch someone else do groundbreaking work, and then hold that
other person's work up as an example before we change the minds of people
in our own institution.
 
Nevertheless, I do share your sense of disappointment.  In the meantime, I
will continue to try and get all my co-workers to try out e-mail.  Soon
they may begin rely on it, and then they may start expand their vision of
the internet...who knows where it will all lead!
 
Richard Chute                           [log in to unmask]
 
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden         Claremont, CA 91711
Phone:  (909) 625-8767, ext. 222
FAX:  (909) 626-6760