Glossary A–ZLetter M
Media station (museum)
A media station is a screen or terminal in an exhibition where visitors can call up films, texts, images or sound on a topic.
It is usually interactive and part of the exhibition design. It is found in museums, memorial sites and visitor centres.
At a media station, a visitor might choose eyewitness interviews, in-depth texts about an object or an animation explaining a technique. Listening stations provide sound via handsets or headphones. Content is often available in several languages and in plain language. Many stations run unchanged for years.
Media stations must start reliably every day and must not give visitors access to the operating system. Spare parts and maintenance for the whole duration of the exhibition should be clarified from the outset. Films, photos and music require usage rights, often for a limited time. Touch surfaces and handsets must be cleaned regularly. Subtitles and a reachable operating height make the station usable for more people.