In our exhibition design class yesterday with Ralph Appelbaum the discussion centered around using new technology in museums. Though his firm as been called THE high tech design firm by the Wall Street Journal Ralph himself can't type and doesn't use a computer. It seems that museum and exhibition designers are focused on developing and implementing high tech gadgets because that's what the museum trustees seem to want to lure the new Nintendo generation into their institutions. I tried to explain the possibilities of the internet as an added layer to museums that would connect them to each other and to the public but Ralph is concerned about people missing out on the experience of visiting a museum (and, frankly, that's where he makes his money). I babbled on, he didn't get it because he's not online. Here's your chance to talk to one of the top exhibition/museum designers in the world. What I'd like are some annecdotes about how you've used the Internet to improve access to your museum and/or your professional capabilities. I want to convince him that making museums accessible will make people want to visit the "real thing" even more. I'll collect them and give them to him next week. Please respond to my address and put "DEAR RALPH" in the subject. If the response is interesting (and I'm sure it will be) I'll summarize to the list or perhaps make the posts I get available. Robbin Murphy NYU/Museum Studies [log in to unmask]