Museum looking after the past, but looking to the future with app

Museums are generally more known for looking to the past than the future so the launch of a new app from the Museum of London has caught our eye.

Apps for museums in themselves are nothing new. The  British Museum has a guide and audio app available for download. Not only that. It was shortlisted for Best Tourism Experience in the BT Visit London Awards 2009.

It brings the Parthenon Sculptures to life and explains why the Benin Bronzes were spattered with human blood, amongst other things as visitors weave their way through the galleries checking out the exhibits.

What’s interesting about this new app however is that StreetMuseum guides users to sites across London where hidden histories of the city dramatically appear.

Over 200 sites have been picked where users can hold up and look through their iPhones and see the past emerge, locked as an overlay across the present scene.

These can be viewed as ghostly alignments, or the archive images can be brought up and explored in detail, along with information about StreetMuseum’s photographs and paintings.

The project is all part of the marketing strategy to mark the opening of a series of new galleries – complete with interactive exhibits, film and changing displays – at the Museum of London incorporating photographs from the museum archive in the app.

And to make big impact, a 3D installation to accompany the app is being situated in Trafalgar Square until May 16.

“The launch of the StreetMuseum app is an exciting departure for the Museum of London, opening our unique collections to new audiences in a witty and creative manner,” explained Professor Jack Lohman, Director of Museum of London.

“London’s stories are varied and many-voiced, and this app allows the present and the past to overlap and share their secrets. StreetMuseum opens up the city in new and exciting ways.”

The app has been developed by the team at Brothers and Sisters. The same agency was recently responsible for developing a cool line of augmented reality clothing for kids.

StreetMuseum is free to download for 3G and 3GS iPhones and is  available on iTunes.