Hear, hear!
Our guided tours yesterday at the New York Historical Society (N-YHS) Museum and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNS) both were extremely insightful, but very disparate in terms of ability to hear the voice of the guide. This post will focus on the impact of extraneous noise on the experience of a museum visitor.
At the outset of our tour at the N-YHS Museum, headsets were dispersed to all members of our seminar group. These headsets were paired with a microphone worn by our guide to ensure that his commentary would be heard. Buttons on each receiver permit a wearer to increase or decrease volume, and an attached neck strap eased the burden of carrying the device itself. Even with noises coming from different sources as we walked through the museum, our guide’s voice was heard.
At the AMNH, guides spoke to our group without the aid of this equipment. This was problematic, as many extraneous voices and noises filled museum spaces. This inhibited my ability to hear their commentary, which led me to strategically position myself nearby as we moved throughout the museum.
These experiences demonstrate the value of such equipment for all visitors regardless of hearing impairment. These devices were manufactured by Orpheo, which also offers other technology products which support visitor experiences at cultural institutions. The AMNH already may have this equipment at hand but if not, considering the number of people present within the museum each day, this technology may serve the AMNH well!
