The Future! 3D digitization at the Smithsonian

I saw a spot about this on the news a couple of weeks ago and was blown away.  As we all know, digitization of museum and archival collections has been an important task in the field of public history in recent years.  Digitization can take many forms: from simply taking a picture of an old newspaper to scanning old photographs to 3D scanning that is now being done by the Smithsonian.  Digitization, in all its forms, allows public historians to preserve their collections in a more modern format and also to share their collections with a broader audience.

The internet, for better or for worse, is so much a part of our life in 2014.  And by utilizing the latest technology historians can reach more people than ever before, and present history to them in a way they might not have thought about.  There are tons of social media campaigns led by institutions like the Smithsonian to get people involved and engaged in history.  From #museumselfie days to #throwbackthursday to even #musueumcats (everyone should check that one out ha!) museums and archives are using social media platforms to connect with people.

The Smithsonian has now taken this whole inter-connectivity pursuit to the next level.  They have been using the latest in scanning technology to scan their collections in 3D!  Here is a little video they posted about the new project:

Amazing.  This will allow you to sit on your couch in your pajamas and look at and manipulate Abe Lincoln's life mask, if you're into that kind of thing.  This will allow schoolchildren, who may not be fortunate enough to take a class trip to D.C., to see items from the world's greatest museum right in their classroom.  This will allows people around the world, who may never get the chance to visit this great nation of ours, to experience the amazing historical artifacts of the land of the brave.  And! The TV spot about this even mentioned that these scanned items can be printed on 3D printers anywhere in the world!! Now how cool is that?  You can print your very own Lincoln life mask in your pajamas!  If you happen to have a spare 3D printer laying around your house, of course.

Technology, although I may hate it sometimes, is really opening up the world, and strides are being made in the field of public history.  Maybe in the future there will be enough money for the National Museum of the United States Air Force to get some sweet 3D scanning equipment!  And maybe in the future kids won't be saying "History? I hate history."  New technology like this will bring amazing archives and museum collections to broader and more diverse audiences than ever before.  Welcome to the future, my friends!