The technology dreams of museums

4 min leestijd

If you had $250,000, what would you do? That’s the open question we asked 300 museum professionals in our survey about visualization technologies. The responses were both insightful and inspiring.

From our previous blog posts, we know that budget is an important factor for museums in the selection of visualization technologies. But one can surely dream about what they would do if there were no restrictions.

Summarizing the answers, we can state that investments would include upgraded audio systems, interactive displays and specialized media servers or content players. But the number one thing our respondents indicated was to prioritize upgrading or purchasing new projectors.

Many organizations are looking towards high-resolution laser projectors to improve display quality and enhancing visitor engagement through immersive projection environments. This revolution in resolutions is already ongoing, with 42% of the respondents currently having their content in 4K and 50% wishing to switch and have their content in 4K over the next two years.

What does the future hold?

We also wanted to hear our partners’ wilder dreams on the future of technology in exhibits. When asking them about the innovations they would like to see in museum visualization technology in a more distant future, 3D and holographic displays are mentioned the most. If they can dream big, it’s about interactive holograms and user-friendly AR systems that allow visitors to explore artifacts in detail without the need for glasses. Additionally, a lot of the answers also include references to sensory technologies engaging touch, smell and sound.

Equally interesting are dreams about improving today’s projection technology, and perhaps that future is closer than some seem to think. Higher brightness and higher resolutions in smaller boxes, high quality lenses with short-throw ratios... All wishes that are dear to our Barco hearts!

If your organization or department were to receive an unforeseen $250000 USD grant for AV equipment, what would you most urgently spend it on?

If you could direct scientists and engineers to advance museum visualization technology what should they invent to improve your exhibits?

Did you know?

The Barco portfolio offers a range of entry-level models designed to meet diverse projection needs. The Barco G-series and I600 projectors provide uncompromised laser projection at competitive pricing. These projectors are compact, energy-efficient, and come with a wide lens range – long and ultra-short throw – for optimal configuration options. These projectors deliver premium value and quality, making impactful experiences accessible even for small museums with limited budgets.

To better understand the evolving landscape of museum technology and the perspectives of those who shape it, we conducted a comprehensive survey involving over 300 creative professionals, technical specialists and senior executives in the museum industry. This diverse group, representing approximately 150 different organizations and venues, provided valuable insights across various roles within the sector.

We summarized all results in this onepager infographic for a quick view.

Our three-part blog series delves deeper into the findings, highlighting key trends, challenges, and opportunities identified by these experts. Each blog will offer a more detailed analysis of the data collected, shedding light on the current state and future direction of technology in museums.

You can find the other posts here:

Download the infographic

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article · 5 min leestijd · 17 jun 2025

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The technology dreams of museums

What does the future hold?

Did you know?

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