Animatronics; From Movies to Museum. The Casa Parlante Living History Museum in Corfu, Greece

The 21st century museum is an evolving and living museum. Modern museums have shifted from object-oriented to visitors-oriented exhibitions, unfolding an intense human-centered character. Towards this end, museums have adopted innovative technologies to encourage and augment visitors' participation and involvement. Animatronics (animation electronics) are life-like robots that resemble to people or animals. Animatronics or robotics, have been used in movies representing animals (mostly dinosaurs). They trigger visitors' imagination, enrich their experience and comprise novel cognitive and learning tools. This paper aims to present animatronics' route in space and time, along with their evolving and updated forms and uses today both in entertainment and/or educational environments, such as museums. It will also present Casa Parlante - the Living Museum, a unique museum in Corfu, Greece, a sui generis museum. Casa Parlante has employed human-resembling animatronics using robotic technology to guide visitors in the past by offering a unique and holistic experience.