The origins of this stem from the convergence of different technologies and traditions. It seeks to trace the origins of the terms and their usage within a museum context.
Users are able to do experiments and infer scientific principles from first hand experience.
The second tradition is derived from the British Science museum. It emphasises working models of machines. Interactives have the potential to demonstrate processes and enable the user to see from new perspectives. A sample of computer based interactives and non-computer based interactives were compared . The use of these interactives by museum visitors were observed and differences in the way these different types of interactive can and are being used were identified.