QC Codes bring museum to modern era

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Tiny, square-shaped, black-and-white codes are bringing Travis' Jimmy Doolittle Air and Space Museum's past into the present.

Through the use of quick-response code readers on smartphones, museum guests can now get a better understanding of the facility's displays.

Scanning the code at the station for a Lockheed J37 turbo jet engine takes visitors to a streaming video clip of the engine in use, for example.

"Now people can hear the engine rather than just see it," said Terry Juran museum director. "We're bringing the museum out of the Dark Ages and into the 21st century."

Travis is one of the first bases to implement the QR code system, Juran said. The base has approximately 50 codes in place now, including one for every aircraft.

Installing the codes was a months-in-the-making process that began last year under the guidance of Col. Richard Williamson, former 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander.

The effort falls under Travis' Digital Air Wing Initiative, an effort to "spearhead efficiency through technology," said 2nd Lt. Thomas Hollin, 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron supply officer. "Our goal is to enrich the lives of our members and guests through technology."

Juran said that the experience of visiting the museum has evolved from information stations near the display describing their history to modern times, when visitors of all ages have access to a cavalcade of information.

People, particularly children, who have no connection or knowledge of the history of a particular artifact can use the codes to hear engines roar, see planes in flight or see a bomb drop, Juran said.

In addition to the QRs, the museum offers free wireless Internet access with which to use
the code readers. One volunteer, Dana Wallace, 349th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, volunteered his time to string the wiring along the rafters of the museum building.

Juran said that, although educational, the museum also is a business and must think like one.

"It is a form of entertainment," he said.

One way the codes help is by giving Juran and his staff the ability to constantly upgrade and improve the displays and the codes by tracking which ones are scanned and how often.

"It helps us identify weak links," he said.

The plan is to grow and shape the QR code program as necessary to give visitors the best experience possible, Juran said.

"The museum can't be a place where artifacts collect dust," Juran said.