Digital museum objects and digital ecologies

Abstract

Three main claims form the basis of this article. First, that digital museum objects are relational objects and therefore active participants in networks of interaction through which their evolving meaning is formed and reformed. Second, that there exists a digital ecology, comprised of both physical and digital elements, in which digital museum objects are situated. Third, and finally, I contend that this digital ecology both facilitates and limits interactions with digital museum objects. The purpose of this article is to examine digital museum objects in digital ecologies and to understand who such ecologies are working for, and more importantly, who they are working against.