Is the virtual exhibition the natural successor to the physical?¹

When designing a traditional, physical exhibition, the archivist can look to the museum designer for guidance on interpretation, communication and visitor research. Now, the internet offers new possibilities to develop the design and learning opportunities of the exhibition, giving access to a broader audience. Yet the exhibitor must remain aware of the concerns over displaying content-based archival documents, and the effects a computer-based display will have on what is considered to be the most significant aspect of an exhibition: the encounter it provides with the ‘real thing’.