1:00 PM 20th of February 2014, I step out of the metro at Southwark, from here it is supposed to be just a short walk to the Museum. This morning I decided to download the new app of the museum, it had 5 star rating in the app store so my expectations are pretty high. At the moment I walk into the big hall I feel a little vibration in my right pocket. That is surprising… it is the app, welcoming me to the museum. It also tells me that the easiest way to the Paul Klee exhibition (that I favored this morning) is the red escalator up on the left.

I rather have a cup of coffee first, but thanks for the warm welcome. Hm.. no signs to guide. Although it makes the museum look much better it doesn’t make it easier. The phone in my hand vibrates again, it is the app, asking if i am looking for something? Short swipe to the right and the second option is food&drinks, green escalator and and a left turn. I will get a 30% discount to the exhibition if I use my PayPal account to pay at the restaurant. My dad would have been proud of me getting a 30% discount without having to bargain.

The easiest way from the restaurant to the exhibition is the blue escalator up, in the app I can purchase my ticket. Or if I want to pay with cash, I should go down with the green escalator and go right until I see a cue of approximately 30 people… If that is not an incentive to leave my cash at home, what is?

I approach the entrance of the exhibition, I open my app in front of the detection port, it recognizes that I bought a ticket and opens. I take a left turn, impressed by the paintings I walk around. What a relief, no one is blocking my view by reading the tiny descriptions next to the paintings. And than.. I stop.. wow… this is impressive. I look at it unsure of what I see. Thinking of the words that Sherlock Holmes has said so many times, I take a step back and observe. Still unsure of what I am ‘observing’ my phone vibrates, it notices that I have been standing in front of fire of full moon for quite a while and it would like to give me some more information on the painting.

I dive into the app it gives me great information and guides me through the exhibition, suggesting other paintings that are somehow connected to the one I am looking at. It gives me time to observe the paintings and notices when I move on again. It gives me directions and insights on the paintings. Meanwhile it remembers which paintings hold my attention and the ones I walk past.

While looking at fire in the evening City Mapper notifies me, if I want to make it to my next appointment at 5:30 I should be leaving the museum in 15 minutes. I am about to leave the museum and I feel my phone… What did you think of the museum Tim?

If you happen to work at a museum and you want to make it the most awesome one in the world. Contact me on tigr@nodesagency.com and we will help you realize it.