We analyzed them for frequency and sorted them in a separate 4D database. After that, we found the 1,000 most frequent words and stored the sets on each of the four Mac servers in their hard drives. By creating pre-built searches for the most popular words, it reduced the search time to less than one minute. The servers try first to return the set and, if there isn't a set, they conduct a search. The end result is an easy to navigate on-line exhibit containing more works of art than any museum in the world.
Users can browse through the collection's database using their personal interests as their guide.
The site also includes exhibition schedules, collection summaries, guided tours, guides to American and African art, and poems written by students on objects from the collections. The Future of the Thinker Eventually, Futernick would like to add every piece of the museums' art to the Web site. This would display our entire collection of about 120,000 pieces on the Internet. Futernick mentions he is considering making his program available to other museums and galleries so they can create similar sites, and make the art world more accessible to everyone. The advantage of distributing it as shareware is that others, with the help of 4D developers, can easily modify the source to best meet their specific requirements.