The postcard will bring to life the chain maker's workshop

Bosses at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley claim their visitors will be the first in the UK to send one of the futuristic greetings.

The new postcard contains a CD which shows film and video footage from the museum as well as telling the history of the area.

Users will even be able to experience the aroma of molten metal when the CD is linked to innovative computer technology.

Museum director, Ian Walden said: "Although we are a museum and highlight the importance of remembering the past we are keen to be at the forefront of modern technology and can identify the importance of securing the future as much as preserving the past."

This is the most exciting development that has occurred in the 150 years of the postcard Rob Hornblower, director of CisMekka

The museum has spent the last six months working with Devon-based CisMekka Multimedia Marketing to develop the new video CD postcard.

The CD includes 45 minutes of video footage, 200 still photographs as well as informative text.

Rob Hornblower, director of CisMekka, said: "This is the most exciting development that has occurred in the 150 years of the postcard and we feel it is only fitting that this should be launched at the Black Country Living Museum."

Visitors to the museum will be able to try the new postcard before they buy.

During January and February it will be linked to a prototype machine which produces aromas from around the museum while the video plays.