What Drives Users to Adopt a Digital Museum? A Case of Virtual Exhibition Hall of National Costume Museum

Abstract

The onset of technological innovations (mobile and handhelds, virtual reality, multi-touch screens, and interactive 3D) have provided creative ideas and perspectives for online communication, dissemination, and protection of cultural heritage for costume museums. Digital costume museums (DCM) digitized clothing collections for the Internet, conducive to enhancing visitors’ understanding, enjoyment, and positive attitudes and stimulating further learning, experience, and exploration. However, little attention has been paid to the influence and effects of these technologies on visitors’ experience toward digital costume museums. Improving users’ behavior intention and expanding the influence of digital costume museums are issues that need further discussion. In this study, we expand the technology acceptance model (TAM) by adding information quality and information richness as the system characteristics, constructing the research model, and 11 hypotheses of users’ behavior intention toward digital costume museums. Analysis of data collected from 265 costume-related respondents reveal that information quality (IQ) positively influences perceived convenience (PC) and perceived ease of use (PEOU), while information richness (IR) has a positive impact on perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived playfulness (PP). The finding also reveals that perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived playfulness (PP) are significant predictors of users’ behavior intention (BI) toward using digital costume museums. The research conclusion enriches academic theories and brings practical inspiration for managers, curators, and practitioners to construct and innovate digital costume museums.

A Review of Virtual Display Construction Methods

“…At present, the basic digital display forms that the public is exposed to can be roughly divided into three categories, the first one is the interactive catalog of graphics and text presented in a card-type layout; the second category relies on 3D software modeling to replicate or create virtual scenes; the third category is to capture physical scenes through 360° panoramic photography technology. The three categories of virtual digital exhibition are not fragmented or opposing, and many virtual digital exhibitions at home and abroad are constructed by integrating two or more ways of display to provide different participation experiences to the viewers [5].…”

The use of virtual exhibition to promote exhibitors’ pro-environmental behavior: The case study of Zhejiang Yiwu International Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment Expo

“…Fourth, the virtual platform emphasizes the navigation that directs and informs visitors how they could move to the next spatial entity [30]. The digital platform with good navigation in a museum exhibition improves the perceived convenience of access [31]. In the relevant literature of virtual tours, several scholars have identified the importance of navigation on constructing a satisfactory experience.…”

“…Last, the visual appeal presents increasing attention from visitors. Wu, Jiang (31) noted that the esthetic design of virtual exhibition creates a good atmosphere and feeling for browsing. The visual effects of the exhibition determine whether people choose to visit the virtual exhibition or not [32].…”

How generous interface affect user experience and behavior: Evaluating the information display interface for museum cultural heritage

“…With the widespread use of new technologies in museum practice, such as the internet, information and communication technology, digital media technology, and interactive design theory, the functions of museums have expanded beyond physical preservation, display, public education, and information dissemination. 1,2 Exhibits in museums have also shifted from object-based to information-based exhibits. 3 In today's post-digital museum era, museums seek to improve the informal learning experience of visitors through digital technologies as the primary repository of tangible cultural heritage.…”

“…With the widespread use of new technologies in museum practice, such as the internet, information and communication technology, digital media technology, and interactive design theory, the functions of museums have expanded beyond physical preservation, display, public education, and information dissemination 1,2 . Exhibits in museums have also shifted from object‐based to information‐based exhibits 3 .…”