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Introduction is growing interest in exploring the ways in which new technologies can be used to enhance participation in museums and galleries. The longstanding commitment to interactivity in science muse-ums and science centres has begun to bear upon developments in the arts and the decorative arts. It is increasingly recognized that carefully designed new technologies may provide visitors with relevant and tailored information and serve to enhance interpretation of and engagement with object-rich collections. We have witnessed, for example, the deploy-ment of digital displays alongside works of art, the development of mobile technologies for visitors to contemporary art galleries, and the introduction of a range of" low-tech" interactive features in leading art and decorative art museums. There remains, however, some debate as to the usefulness of these resources, their contribution to aesthetics and the …