How Did Touch Tables Never Die?

Many tech trends in the museum world disappear as fast as they came. (Come back, spin browser!) 

But there is one I swore was going to die an early death years ago … and it never did.

How did touch tables never die?

Upon reflection, there might be some good reasons:

1. When large and facing up, a beloved personal device (a touchscreen) becomes a group thing.

2. Touch tech constantly improves. Touch tables inherit that progress every time they debut. The format is perennially new.

3. They are curatorially forgiving. You can stuff lots of content types in there. Content developers have become accustomed to this. Though beware: touchscreens aren’t for leftovers.

4. By lasting this long, touch-tables are now expected. (There’s a touch table? Must be an exhibition!)

5. Despite massive efforts by big tech (e.g., Microsoft) table-sized touch has never taken off with the general public like tablet and mobile have. Museums have them all to themselves.

Here’s the thing:
Every so often, a trend survives and jumps to become a trope, a recurring motif. The interactive museum touch table just might have made that jump.

Warmly,
Jonathan