The impact of digitalisation and digitisation in museums on memory-making

Abstract

Museums have expanded beyond their initial role in preserving artefacts as memory intuitions, playing an educational role and being tourist attractions. They had to adapt and increasingly utilise digital technologies to stay relevant in contemporary times. The use of technology in museums can be divided into two domains: digitalisation and digitisation. This study reviews 83 screened articles aligning with the guidelines of PRISMA systematic review to analyse existing knowledge about digitalisation and digitisation in museums, to demonstrate how these processes impact the role of museums, memory-making, and identify gaps for further research. The results indicate that digitalisation and digitisation enhance the overall museum experience for museum visitors and promote the educational aspect of museums as an ‘interconnected space’. Notable use of digitalisation includes the use of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, while digitisation often is present through museum websites. Nonetheless, four current challenges for museums have been identified that warrant further research.