using ehive to create custom sites and applications
DESCRIPTION
Exhibitor briefing at Museums and the Web 2011, PhiladelphiaTRANSCRIPT
1924-5 NZ ‘Invincibles’ rugby team mascot, NZ Rugby Museum
Paul RoweVernon SystemsMuseums and the WebSaturday 9th April 2011Philadelphia
Using eHive to create custom sites and applications
Paul RoweJoint CEO, Vernon Systems Ltd
Developers of collection management systems since 1985
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wizzer/5358480666/
Finding ways to tell your collections stories
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46124960@N00/4322266394/
eHive
Software as a Service CMS
Collections management and online access to collections
Data storage platform
Programming interfaces
Wordpress plugins
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waleedalzuhair/2492158122/
Staff in New Zealand, UK, and South AfricaFocused on collections management software
600 museums worldwide
World’s first Software as a Service CMSLaunched in 2008
A solution to common problems faced by small museums
• Limited IT resources & budget
• Complex software
• Hard to publish to web
• Run by volunteers who maywant to contribute from home
http://www.flickr.com/photos/collinmel/1450793951/
eHive collection management system
Within eHive, each contributor has their own login to create and edit object records and upload images
eHive web admin for collections management functions
eHive functionsObject cataloguingAcquisition tracking
Communities
Museum and collection info driven by eHive
Represents 400 museums
Collection records from 70 museums
What’s an API and what’s it doing to my museum data?
Application Programmable Interface
Websites or applications can talk to each otherData can be reused
eHive
Collection records
. . . . .
3rd party website
Selected collection records redisplayed with different presentation/context
. . . . .
API – “the telephone line”
Getting data in and out
Bulk import via XML or spreadsheetExport in text, Excel, PDF and XML formats
Example eHive userChamps Chapel Museum of
East Hendred, UK
About the Trust, Museum and Village• Small volunteer run organisation• Mixed collection• Replacing an existing image database• Needed to reduce costs
East Hendred Museum on eHive
Images and data converted in July 2009
eHive forum and direct support
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/2496308570/
Sharing data
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanr/142455033/
Sharing data Copyright issues
Less control of where your data ends up
eHive - 3rd party search “opt-out” option
eHive supports Creative Commons licences + other categories
Current development
Programming interfaces for integration with other websites and products
Wordpress plugins to enable eHive users to build their own museum websites
APIRESTfulReturns JSON objects
Object, Account and Community API calls:- Get record by id or keyword search- Get recent, interesting or popular records- Get tagsObject specific API calls- Put (add) tags- Get/Put (add) comments
e.g. http://ehive.com/api/v1/objects?query=picasso
OAUTH – allow access to content in eHive
One OAUTH key per app or site
Wordpress site for your museum
3rd party application
Regional website which harvest your data
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtinalamb/61688141/
eHive and Wordpress
Build your own museum website
100 million sites built in Wordpress
http://www.flickr.com/photos/koenvereeken/2088902012/
PluginsAdd generic Wordpress widgets for contact forms,
Flickr image feeds, embedded videos etc
Embed collection info from eHive
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13942060@N00/87656563/
Old website that needed to be
replaced
Key points for the DCGPWebsite is essential for data collection and publication
Using eHive helped improve functionality and appearance
Built in 2001
No content management system
(CMS), so background &
project pages have remained static
Hard to navigate
between the 3 different sections of the original website
Collection content
needed to be preserved
Decision to move to eHive
Update the website - add new caches and publications
Fresh look
New functionality – tagging, commenting, contact form
Vernon Systems understands museums collections
Price - very competitive and good value!
Deliberately Concealed Garments Project (DCGP) new website
Tell your stories through Wordpress posts
Pages using the eHive plugins can include static content and eHive functions
Example of an eHive & Wordpress site with different theme
Why use software as a service?
• Simplifies public access• No need to buy servers or manage software• Automatic backups & updates• Fewer compatibility issues• Access from anywhere with a web connection• Smaller ongoing costs, no initial purchase cost
eHive pricing
