Museum of Science and Industry

Guests may never hear the term "SmartVisit," but they will benefit from the initiative. Funded by support for the Science Rediscovered capital campaign, the Museum's "SmartVisit" program uses technology to personalize and extend the guest experience. The program has three goals:

Simplify the Visit: Guests who plan their Museum visit online in advance will be able to create and print custom itineraries and maps. These planning tools will include the guests' "must-see" exhibits, films and demonstrations—and identify their location in the Museum. Guests will also be able to speed up the ticket purchase process at the Museum using new kiosks that allow them to view video previews of new exhibits and Omnimax films, purchase and print tickets, and print custom itineraries and maps.

Build Guest Ownership: Guests will be able to scan the barcode on their ticket in select exhibits to create their own virtual scrapbook of videos, images and sounds. This collection of Museum experiences will be easily accessible from home—from a personal Web page located on msichicago.org. As the Museum builds new exhibits, special opportunities are being built in. Imagine capturing the sound of your heartbeat in YOU! The Experience, measuring the wind speed of a tornado in Science Storms or tracking a virtual journey to Mars started in Explore: Blue Planet • Red Planet.

Extend Guest Participation: Once guests save videos, pictures and sounds to their personal Web page, they will be able to share their media with friends through e-mail, Flickr, Blogger or other online sharing sites. Guests will also be offered online activities, programs and events that are related to their favorite Museum exhibits and experiences.