Using the language function for multiple voices

We all understand the importance of incorporating multiple perspectives into exhibits. It’s part of a growing understanding that there is no single source of truth, but many different ways of looking at pretty much everything. 

Curio has many ways to help to express that multiplicity. One of them is to re-purpose the language feature. By renaming a “language option button” as “a different perspective button” you can give visitors the choice of which perspective they want to know more about. 

Here’s how it works:

• Say you want to create a Curio exhibit about a particular display case. The original content on your highlights could be based on material provided by expert curators. But you also decide you want to add in a child’s perspective, and just for good measure, a fun facts layer called “Quirky Facts”. 

• You might create the “Curator’s Notes” layer of highlights first. To give it that name, select Languages from the main menu on the left. Click where it says English (the default language in Curio). Then click on the little pencil to the right, and rename the layer “Curator’s Notes”. 

• To add another perspective or layer, let’s say, “Just for us kids”, go to Languages again, and choose another language from the pull-down menu. Choose any language - let’s say Abkhazian. Press Add Language to select it, and again change the name of the button to “Just for us kids”. The choice of the language does not matter. You are simply using the pull-down menu to create new perspective options for your content, and it happens to be pre-populated with the names of languages (given its original purpose). As anywhere in Curio, you can still input your content in whatever language you like. 

• Now that you have two different perspectives or layers on your interactive, their respective buttons will appear on screen. You can go ahead and create a third perspective such as “Quirky Facts” in the same way. You can add as many as you like (and can fit on the screen).  

The Language function is used by renaming languages and using them for different voices or perspectives.

The highlights in each perspective layer will be on the same places on the hero image, but the content of each highlight can be completely different. The “Curator’s Notes” might include detailed text and expert video, whereas the Child’s Perspective might feature fun, brief notes and audio interviews with kids. The “Quirky Facts” layer might consist entirely of bullet points. It’s totally up to you.

There’s no reason why you couldn’t also use the language option for the purpose for which it was originally designed in the same Curio interactive. That is, to add real “language buttons” alongside your “perspective buttons” to incorporate content in other languages as well. 

Happy Multiplicity! 

Using the language feature to share a Historic perspective of the scene as well as community memories.

Book reviews from different genders allow a variety of perspectives

The language function allows editing of the language names in order to display them using special characters or names that work for visitors.