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Show of hands...which *hands on* science center have you seen that
uses audio tours? I only know of one, the NY Hall of Science. Any
others? I would be very interested in hearing about either research
or anecdotal reports on their uptake rate and their effectiveness.
In our case, the uptake rate is vanishingly small (even when they
have been free). NSF funded a research program here which showed
that they were very effective for adults at the Hall, but not
effective for children. They funded a follow up program demonstrating
that a universally designed audio tour could be very effective for
low vision and blind visitors.
Second, how many of you have tried a museum podcast tour? Any
reports on how they were? I've read the news accounts, but never
tried one.
Eric Siegel
New York Hall of Science
[log in to unmask]
(718) 699-0005 x 317
On Mar 23, 2006, at 3:33 PM, Lath Carlson wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> *******
>
> You may want to take a look at this:
> http://www.acoustiguide.com/what/documents/PDA_001.pdf
>
> I'm not sure how well developed it is, looks a bit like vaporware, but
> probably worth getting in contact with them.
>
> Lath Carlson
>
> Manager of Interactive Technology
> Art Guild Inc.
> 300 Wolf Drive
> Thorofare, NJ 08086
> Mobile: 215-768-9322
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> www.artguildinc.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of (Chrstine Klein)
> Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 3:12 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Science exhibit pod casts
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> **
> *****
>
> On a tangent, we have been wanting to use some form of iPod-like
> technology to supply video and audio to accompany exhibits in place of
> the headset/audio-only systems now in use in some settings. Does
> anyone
> have suggestions on technology that's available? One thought was the
> iPod, but that has plenty of disadvantages.
>
> Kit Klein
>
> ---- Matthew White <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> =============
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> **
> *****
>
> This thread has prompted a number of responses from me. Basically I
> think it is a mistake to think of Podcasts and related technology as
> discrete stand alone media that will soon go the way of the 8-Track.
> Instead think of it as the first (actually the 3rd or 4th) step in
> the evolution of personalized media delivery. Look at what many
> Universities are doing with iPods already in terms of educational
> media delivery (I thought I had a URL ready to go for a news article
> link, but can't find it. Google it for yourself.) Sure in five years
> the term iPod could become obsolete or gericized out of
> meaningfulness, but the technology will evolve into something more
> elaborate and more useful that museums and science centers ignore at
> their peril. And yes, Apple is the largest delivery mode now, but
> they aren't the only ones and I can't see them holding this dominance
> for more than ten years anymore than Sony held onto their dominance
> with the Walkman.
>
> As far as specific points:
>
> 1. I agree that not everything we do need be interactive for the
> reasons Eric mentions. Many science centers know this. Many science
> centers and museums sponsor lectures, TV shows and books. Not
> everyone wants inquiry based learning all the time. Does anyone? But
> that doesn't mean they can't be interactive SOME DAY. Think of the
> many interactive educational activities you have on your web site. I
> don't think it will be too long before you can down embed them into a
> Podcast and download into an iPod or similar device,maybe even one
> with a screen large enough for a whole classroom to see.
>
> 2. Not everything labeled "podcast" is only for iPods and therefore
> meets the earbud, lone enjoyment paradigm Eric describes. I have
> heard of no studies that track how people enjoy Pocasts and similar
> media, but anecdotally I know many people who enjoy iPod videos on
> their computers and TVs. As soon as last night's episode of "Lost" is
> posted I will download it and watch it and I don't even have a video
> iPod. I'll also likely watch it with my girlfriend on a computer. I
> also know of people, like my colleagues at work, who will gather
> around a computer and enjoy iPod based media a as a group. iTunes,
> the dominate computer software in this field, already has rudimentary
> features that encourage sharing of media (legally). Although iPods
> are enjoyed by-and-large in a solitary manner, this technology does
> have potential for more social dimensions. Again, think of a
> classroom with a TV sized "iPod" that "subscribes" to a "podcast" of
> a science demonstration. No video distributor, no commercials, no
> buying media that needs storage. All we would have to do is post it
> on a website. And there is no reason it can't be interactive or
> inquiry based in some fashion.
>
> Oops! I gotta get to work.
>
> Great topic!
>
> Matt
>
> On Mar 23, 2006, at 8:26 AM, WAYNE LABAR wrote:
>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>> Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>> institutions.
>> *********************************************************************
>> *
>
>> *******
>>
>> Concerning this subject
>>
>> Here at Liberty Science Center are already working on launching the
>> content that we supply guests on thie cell phones as a pod cast. That
>> being being due to the issues with Apple's monopoly on getting
>> content
>> on an IPOD we are not concentrating our efforts there.
>>
>> That being said I think that we should not underestimate the value
>> that
>> audiences may find in having content outside our insitution. Making
>> podcasts less like a lecture an more like a science resource is a
>> possiblity. The power of the IPOD is not that it is at the science
>> center (certainly we should experiement with that use) but that it is
>> used outside the science center. In fact content can be shared.
>>
>> I think that these devices allow us to possibly impact the largest
>> group
>> of visitors we all have - nonvisitors. Looking at the news
>> everyday we
>> really need to reach them.
>>
>> Wayne
>>
>> Wayne J LaBar
>> Vice President, Exhibitions and Theaters
>> Liberty Science Center - Exhibits
>> 285 West Side Avenue
>> Suite 268
>> Jersey City, NJ 07305
>>
>> voice: 201.451.0006 x-347
>> fax: 201.451.7046
>>
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>
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