When apple launched the iPhone a mere 18 months ago, the technological ‘convergence’ predicted by the media became a reality. Instead of lugging around a bag full of paraphernalia, here was one gadget that included maps, camera, music, guide book content, phrase books, email and phone and it signalled a great leap forward for fans of slow travel. Despite a decidedly mixed reaction to Steve Jobs’ hotly anticipated iPad, some of the more optimistic reviews have predicted its 10 hour battery life, built-in compass and advanced map functionality could make it an essential accessory for any trip.
Major magazines and newspapers are now frantically busy creating iPad apps to disseminate and monetise their photo-rich, graphically-designed content before the iPad launches in March. The smartest hotels, destinations and cultural institutions will be following suit as the iPad could prove the most effective promotional tool for tourism in a decade.
Audio guides at the Tate Modern, for example, have the same look and functionality as an iPod, but in the near future this gadget will be replaced by an application that’s downloadable straight to your phone or iPad – another step towards seamless, slow travel. In fact, there’s already a museum that’s pioneering new mobile technology and it’s not in media-savvy London or even in New York.
Palermo’s brand new contemporary art museum Palazzo Riso has just unveiled a decidedly cutting-edge inaugural exhibition called Essential Experiences which includes work by Gilbert and George and Richard Long, raising the profile of the Sicilian capital’s rather traditional cultural scene. Visitors will be able to peruse multilingual information on the paintings, sculptures and installations through a new multimedia system called Exploro which is downloadable onto any mobile phone made in the last five years. And the cultural commentary stretches further than the galleries of Palazzo Riso which is being touted as a information hub for the whole city. Downloads will also be available for other museums and sites across Palermo. And no doubt it’s just a matter of time before this pioneering institution makes its cultural guides iPad compatible.
