The development of the human communication and knowledge has depended fully upon their media. Nowadays, the informational society views new possibility giving multimedia and network environment by the technology of computer and communication. The possibility has driven from the mergence of conventional communication methods and the new ways of interaction within digital information.
One of the major changed method of communication is the virtual exhibition. The virtual exhibition is a computer generated artificial environment giving typical information about exhibition objects on purpose and one of interactive communication method using multimedia and network technology. The virtual exhibition has no physical structure and thus, it gives advantage in which people can experience not only physical and visible information, but also various cultural and metaphysical information. For this reason, the virtual exhibition design needs more abstract and conceptual approach.
The main purpose of this study is to develop a framework for virtual exhibition. And the aims are to define the concept of the virtual exhibition, to draw out main factors of it, to make a effective classification and evaluation method, to propose the proper process of virtual exhibition design, and to make a virtual exhibition model using this process to analyze the usability of it and reinforce it.
For these purposes, this study researches into sundry literatures, CD-ROM titles, Internet web pages, conventional exhibition design and other new information media to define concept of virtual exhibition and draws out main factors of it. The main factors are 'identity', “structure', 'contents', 'interaction', 'assistant', 'public'. Using these factors, It proposes a classification and evaluation factor check method and evaluates exist virtual exhibition cases. Then the process of virtual exhibition design is carried out from comparing conventional exhibition design process with the multimedia, webpage, kiosk design process and the questionnaire from practicians. Finally, virtual exhibition model is built by using these process and 6 factors check method to analyze the usability of the process and the factor check method that proposed.
