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EVALUATION CRITERIA

- The main issue regarding museums that I wanted to stay away from was the “look but don’t touch” method of learning. Throughout the museum, guests are welcomed to sample, examine, and interact with objects and exhibits of their desire. Instead of having to read something, guests will be taught through groundbreaking auditory and visual components.

- Boredom is one word that comes to mind when many people here the word museum. To spice things up, I have incorporated several elements such as transportation pods and interactive screening exhibits.

- One of the most important things that I wanted to accomplish was to attract visitors of all ages, unlike with traditional museums where most guests are middle-aged. The ease of exploration due to the pods will attract older people, and the creative fun of the exhibits will attract younger people.

ROBIN HOOD'S MUSEUM OF CRUSADE TECHNOLOGIES

Robin Hood’s Museum of Crusade Technologies will be located in the heart of London. It seems to be a fitting location due to fact that the actual Robin Hood story originates in England. There will be a ten dollar admissions fee for anyone thirteen and above, and free admissions for anyone twelve and below. This will encourage younger audiences to experience the thrill of Robin Hood’s Museum of Crusade Technologies.

The most unique aspect regarding this museum is that walking is not mandatory. A new innovative method of transportation will attract audiences of all ages to this museum. No longer will parents have to drag uninterested kids through the endless halls of conventional museums, and no longer will the elderly feel burdensome by using wheel chairs.

Instead, a series of transportation pods will carry guests from one exhibit to another. These pods are designed to hold up to six people each, and they are individually operated and self guided by the guests. Unlike conventional tracks that restrict the viewers’ interaction capabilities, these pods can maneuver in any direction for as long a time as the viewer sees fit. The pods are suspended by a tube connected to the roof. The tube is connected to a complex system of magnets, tires, and electric motors in the reinforced ceiling. It is more like a go cart than anything; the only difference is that collisions are impossible. At the top of the connecting tube there is a round rubber pad with multiple collision sensors that will allow pods to maneuver unobstructed. The pods move at a slow enough rate to prevent neck and back injuries due to whiplash. This system also allows the pod to rotate on its axis so guests can have multiple angles of viewing.

Once inside the pod, the viewers become immersed in an auditory and visual spectacle as they travel through the museum. Information about a certain exhibit is mediated through a series of speakers inside of the pod, which are accompanied by visual aid monitors. This feature eliminates the tedious task of reading long passages. And since the auditory information can be adjusted to fit any major language it also breaks the communication barrier, thus allowing a wider range of guests to enjoy the museum’s many offerings.

The pod itself looks like a half sphere with a “booth-like” seating system on the inside. The pod is designed to give maximum freedom to guests without obstructing the view of any one person. The semi-circular seating arrangement allows each person to obtain information in an equally satisfying manner. One of the greatest aspects of the pod is that guests are not restricted to sitting in it. There are many exhibits that are highly interactive; in which case guests can leave the pod and return to it when they want.

WEAPONRY EXHIBIT

The museum’s central theme is the technologies of the Crusades. This topic covers a wide range of unique and interesting subjects, but the most popular and most interactive exhibits include the weaponry exhibit and the architecture exhibit.

The weaponry exhibit is broken up into many small exhibits. One of them includes the armory. Here, guest will be allowed to dress themselves in period armor along with period weapons. This exhibit is meant to educate visitors on the attire and small arms weaponry of crusade warriors while providing a sense of entertainment. Photos will also be allowed once a guest has adorned themselves in the proper wear.

CATAPULT EXHIBIT

The catapult exhibit features a period catapult, with slight modifications, inside of an interactive theater. Here, guests are encouraged to aim the catapult at simulated targets on a massive projection screen. Aiming will require guests to work together by using the many levers, wheels, and dials for an accurate shot. Once they have dialed in their target, they must release the catapult and wait for the simulated results of their shot. Since the catapult’s aiming system is accurate to the times of the Crusades, guests will learn the difficulties soldiers faced when firing such a weapon.

ARCHERY EXHIBIT

Another exhibit that runs along the same lines as the catapult demonstration is the archery exhibit. This exhibit displays many different styles of bows and arrows used by crusaders. And to heighten the sense of interaction, guests will be allowed to pick and fire an actual bow in an archery range. The arrows, although accurate in size and weight, will be fitted with rubber tips to ensure visitor safety.

ARCHITECTURE EXHIBIT

The architecture exhibit is the largest and most interactive exhibit in the entire museum. This exhibit is meant to challenge the ingenuity of guests by allowing them to experiment with various materials to construct a castle, fort, bridge, barricade, exc. of their own. These models, however big or small, can then be tested by scale weights and measures to discover whether or not their creation can withstand forces of any kind such as an attack, a flood, or simply the scaled down weight of a person.

Visitors will truly get lost in the many creative and interactive exhibits of Robin Hoods Museum of Crusade Technologies.