[Artbeyondsightmuseums] Thoughts on Audio Tour Access

Fri Aug 1 13:23:01 UTC 2014

Hi Everyone, 
Access to the information in a museum depends on what kind of museum it
happens to be. I have been to many museums and had many experiences. 
Most of my visits are with the Smithsonian museums and they are many. 
Some museums, like National museum of American History NMAH has Braille
lacks with information. Just the name of the objects, and then an audio
listening device to give the history of the object. It is just like
reading the lack in print and seeing the item. Also a tactile drawing or
a reproduction also helps. 
I do not like the audio tours as how do I know what number gallery I am
in. if the museums do not have Braille numbers or a list of galleries
with a description I can not follow the audio tour. They used to have
this technology at the National Air & Space Museum, NASM. 
Also I do not believe in having Apps or pen friends to get the
information. Not all blind people will have expensive technology. I am
visiting the museum and not listening to my smart phone. 

Yasmin Reyazuddin 
Aging & Disability Services 
Montgomery County Government 
Department of Health & Human Services 
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) 
Rockville MD 20850 
240-777-0311 (MC311) 
240-777-1556 (personal) 
240-777-1495 (fax) 
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm 
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille 

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Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: Artbeyondsightmuseums
[mailto:artbeyondsightmuseums-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Barry
Ginley via Artbeyondsightmuseums
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2014 4:24 AM
To: Tina Hansen; Access to Art Museums
Subject: Re: [Artbeyondsightmuseums] Thoughts on Audio Tour Access

Hi Tina

As you have highlighted there are many ways to deliver information and
to date I haven't found a system which covers all bases.

Kendra's suggestion, using QR codes has been used in an Australian
museum to trigger signed video clips for deaf people and could be
beneficial to trigger audios. The Hall of Patriots Place in New England
has a multi media guide which sinks with interactives, automatically
sinks films with audio descriptions in the auditorium but does not have
an audio menu to select the tour and the trigger points around the
museum are poorly placed. If the menu and placements could be corrected
this would be one of the best guides available.

At the V&A, we are investigating a project Guide Dogs for the Blind are
developing, where the visitor downloads an ap and when they come near
one of our touch objects the ap triggers an information audio. At
present, this is only in the concept stage, I would also like to add in
directional information but one step at a time.

We are currently using Pen Friend for visitors who do not have smart
phones and we have downloadable MP3s from our web site. The museum does
have free wireless which can assist when downloading.

I hope this helps.

Barry
-----Original Message-----
From: Artbeyondsightmuseums
[mailto:artbeyondsightmuseums-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tina
Hansen via Artbeyondsightmuseums
Sent: 31 July 2014 17:15
To: Access to Art Museums
Subject: [Artbeyondsightmuseums] Thoughts on Audio Tour Access

I've been reading up on the state of audio tours in museums, so I want
to add some thoughts and ask some questions.

>From what I've seen, most audio tours at museums go for one of two
approaches: Either the audio content is keyed to stop numbers, or the
material is location-based.

Both types have benefits and drawbacks. On the former, a blind user
needs to bring someone with them to get the right stop numbers. Yet
there is incredible random access and the content is interactive.

On the loction-based units, the blind person can travel alone or with a
friend, but they nave no control over what content gets played.

I know of one site, the Bristol museums and Galleries, that has gotten
around that by using the Pen Friend audio labeler The user can travel
alone or with a friend, and they need only find the label to trigger
audio. I also like this because the content can be broken down.

Other audio tours use a cell phone number, but I don't like to hold a
cell phone to my ear for long periods of time.

Has anyone designed an audio tour framwork or system that allows the
blind museum visitor to take the tour either alone or with a companion,
while also giving the user full control over content? If so, how are you
addressing these issues? Thanks.
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