Timelines and information kiosks · For museum directors, facilities managers and communications staff
Interactive display software for history and information, not slides
If your touch display only plays slides, the touch part goes unused. Interactive display software gives visitors collections to open, names to search and stories to read, and it runs in a web browser on the screen you already have.
No account needed to start. Free to use. No payment details required.
What is interactive display software used for?
Interactive display software runs content on a touch display that visitors control: they tap, browse, search and read instead of watching a loop. HistoryShowcase is interactive display software for history and information, with collections, stories, photos, search and filters, running in a web browser full screen or as an installed app on your own touchscreen.
Updated
- Made for
- Museum directors, facilities managers and communications staff
- Where it goes
- Exhibit galleries, Lobbies and reception areas, Alongside a signage screen
- Layouts
- Profiles, Photo gallery, Portrait gallery, Timeline
- Visitors can filter by
- Line, Year
- Cost
- Free to use. No payment details required.
A touchscreen running slides is a TV
Digital signage software is good at what it was built for: cycling announcements, menus and event notices on a schedule. Put it on a touch display and visitors tap the glass, nothing happens, and they walk away. The touch part goes to waste, and content worth reading gets a few seconds per slide.
Interactive display software flips the model. Visitors choose a collection, open a story, and read the full account with photos and documents. HistoryShowcase does this for history and information. It doesn’t schedule content; if you need slides that change by time of day, keep a signage tool for that screen.
How does interactive display software compare with digital signage software?
| What matters | Digital signage software | HistoryShowcase |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Announcements, menus and today’s events | History, people and information worth exploring |
| What appears | Slides and playlists on a schedule | Collections and stories visitors open |
| Visitor input | Usually watch only | Tap, search by name and filter by year |
| Timing content | Schedule by day and time | No scheduling; what’s live is what shows |
| Depth of each item | One slide, a few seconds | A full story with photos and documents |
What good interactive display software does
Organizes content for browsing
A home screen of collections and sub-collections, in timeline, gallery, profile, ledger and pennant layouts.
Lets visitors find things
Search by name or word, and filter by year and up to two named filters.
Holds real depth
Each story has a title, year, subtitle, summary and longer write-up, with photos and scanned documents.
Respects the visitor
Larger text and reduced motion settings on the touchscreen.
Keeps running offline
Full screen or as an installed app, the display saves the live site and keeps the last complete version.
Stays easy to edit
Changes save as you type, Preview shows the visitor’s view, and undo and change history are there when you need them.
A typical interactive display
Pick a few topics visitors ask about and give each its own collection and layout.
Your siteExplore
- LocomotivesProfiles
One story per engine, with photos and its years in service.
- StationsPhoto gallery
Depots then and now, captioned with dates.
- RailroadersPortrait gallery
Engineers, conductors and station agents.
- TimelineTimeline
The line’s history from first track to today.
Visitors can narrow it by
- Line
- Year
How do you choose interactive display software?
Decide what the screen is for
If it’s announcements on a timetable, use signage software. If visitors should explore history or information, use interactive display software.
Check it runs on your screen
Open the site’s web address in your touchscreen’s browser, full screen or as an installed app. No special player is needed.
Build a small version first
Start at /start with no account, put two or three collections on the home screen and test them on the real screen.
Where does interactive display software fit?
- Exhibit galleriesNext to the objects, holding the stories the labels can’t.
- Lobbies and reception areasWhere visitors stand with a few minutes to explore.
- Alongside a signage screenSignage for today’s notices; the touch display for history.
Interactive display software questions
Can it also show our daily announcements?
It isn’t built for scheduled announcements. Keep signage software for those and use HistoryShowcase on the screen meant for exploring.
Does it need a special player or app?
No. It runs in a web browser. Open the site full screen or as an installed app, and pair the screen from the editor.
How do we keep the content right?
Mark a story Private while you work on it, check it in Preview, then make it visible when it’s ready. Undo and change history are available.
Is it designed for museums?
No, and we’d rather say so. HistoryShowcase was built for schools, so setup asks for a school name and colors. A museum enters its own name and uses the same editor, layouts and touchscreen.
Related ideas
Give your touch display something to explore
Free to use. No payment details required.
