One of the most compelling trends shaping museums today is the rapid integration of emerging technologies, including augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality, spatial audio, holograms, and artificial intelligence.
As competition for people’s time and attention intensifies, museums are increasingly adopting these tools to create immersive, interactive experiences that engage visitors more deeply. The Springfield Museums, with their diverse collections spanning art, science, and history, are particularly well positioned to benefit from this shift toward experience-based interpretation.
Outside to inside: Traditional museum displays are increasingly perceived as static and outdated for contemporary audiences. Visitors today often want more than to walk through galleries filled with objects in glass cases or paintings on walls. Instead, they seek opportunities to step inside a historical moment through virtual reality, explore three-dimensional reconstructions of ancient environments, or encounter dynamic, life-like representations of the past. For a multi-museum complex like the Springfield Museums, which already offers a wide range of narratives and disciplines, immersive technologies provide new ways to connect collections across buildings and to tell stories that resonate emotionally as well as intellectually.
Talking to displays: One of the most innovative developments in this area is the use of holographic installations that enable simulated dialogues with historical figures. These experiences invite visitors to ask questions and engage directly with narratives from the past, transforming passive observation into active participation. The Milken Center in Washington, D.C., for example, features AI-powered holographic displays in its “American Dream Experience.” Life-like holograms of figures, including Serena Williams and Sara Blakely, share their stories and respond to visitor questions using prerecorded material combined with sophisticated projection systems.
Similarly, the “Wonderful Things…The Return of King Tut” exhibition at the Elliott Museum in Florida includes an avatar of archaeologist Howard Carter situated within a recreated tomb environment. Visitors have described interacting with this avatar as emotional and inspiring, even likening the experience to meeting history in person. These examples suggest compelling possibilities for institutions like the Springfield Museums, where historical figures, artists, or scientists connected to the collections could be reintroduced through immersive interpretation.
Soaring into space: The growing impact of virtual reality and augmented reality on curatorial practice is vividly demonstrated in the traveling exhibition “Space Explorers: The Infinite.” The exhibition demonstrates the power of immersive storytelling by placing visitors inside a three-dimensional recreation of the International Space Station using real NASA footage, 360-degree video, and spatial audio. Visitors can float alongside astronauts, explore daily life in orbit, and view Earth from space. The exhibition has attracted more than 500,000 visitors worldwide and has frequently been extended due to its popularity. Many visitors describe the experience as deeply moving or even life-changing, underscoring the strong connection between emotional engagement and learning retention.
Our ISS exhibition at the Science Museum could be updated to include more technologically advanced features, and similar approaches across our campus could enhance historical narratives, artistic interpretation and cross-disciplinary learning by allowing visitors to experience complex subjects in visceral, memorable ways. For example, our historic but little understood George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum could feature immersive digital displays and intriguing atmospheric effects that captivate visitors.
Understanding visitors: Another significant development is the increasing use of motion sensors and mobile-device analytics to study visitor behavior. These technologies allow museums to understand how people move through galleries, which exhibits attract the most attention, and where there is a lack of engagement. This data can help curators and educators design more effective and inclusive experiences. On a campus as expansive as the Springfield Museums, such tools could be especially valuable in improving wayfinding, balancing visitor flow, and ensuring that all collections are accessible and compelling.
Ethics and transparency: At the same time, the adoption of these technologies raises important ethical considerations. Tracking visitor movement, even for research purposes, can feel intrusive if not handled transparently. Similarly, artificial intelligence, while offering enormous potential for personalized interpretation, poses risks related to accuracy, bias, and trust. Museums have long been regarded as reliable and authoritative institutions and maintaining that trust depends on ensuring that AI-generated content is historically accurate and responsibly curated. As the Springfield Museums explore new technological possibilities, clear communication with visitors and strong ethical standards will be essential.
While immersive and emerging technologies have the potential to transform museum experiences, they must be implemented thoughtfully. For the Springfield Museums, the challenge and opportunity lie in balancing innovation with integrity and by using technology not as a passing trend, but as a tool to deepen understanding, spark curiosity, and strengthen the Museums’ educational mission. By doing so, technology can enhance rather than compromise the role of our museums as trusted spaces for learning, reflection, and connection.
Kay Simpson is the president and CEO of the Springfield Museums.
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