(Bath) - On March 21, Acoustiguide executives and directors of the museums at Bath unveiled new programming and state-of-the-art technology at the largest heritage audio tour installation in the world. Acoustiguide's operations at these renowned cultural attractions comprise 1,500 pieces of equipment servicing a million audio tour takers each year. Acoustiguides are included with admission to the Roman Baths, the Museum of Costume, the Victoria Art Gallery, and the Guildhall.
Acoustiguide is the long-standing audio tour provider to the museums at Bath and recently won a highly competitive bid to extend its contract for another five years. In all, Acoustiguide has produced more than 23 hours of programming for the museums at Bath in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and Dutch.
"An exhaustive quality evaluation of the contending (audio) systems saw Acoustiguide emerge as the clear winner," said Stephen Bird, Head of Heritage Services for Bath and North East Somerset Council. "We can therefore testify to the quality of the Acoustiguide product, in terms of both the software - the content - but also the hardware. Of vital importance to us, running the largest inclusive recorded tour of this kind in the world, is the quality, efficiency and comprehensiveness of the maintenance support provided by the company."
In addition to being the largest such installation, the museums at Bath present unique challenges. Acoustiguides must perform both indoors and outdoors and survive drops on stone floors and drastic changes in temperature and humidity. These durable players are also mini-computers that collect detailed information about how visitors used the tour, peak hours and traffic patterns, and most popular tour stops. These data collection features were customized to the requirements of museum management.
"Bath was one of the first premiere museums to recognize that great audio is the secret to engaging the public at a heritage site," said Barbara Roberts, President and CEO of Acoustiguide. "The Council also made strategic decisions that support their educational goals, such as including the audio tour in the price of admission and using digital technology that allows visitors to choose their own paths through a complex site."
The role of the audio tour is to guide visitors through the site's fascinating history - from Roman Bath and Temple complex to fashionable Georgian watering place. The Roman Baths' intriguing past is brought to life with dramatizations of life two thousand years ago - from religious rituals to daily bathing and socializing.
About Acoustiguide
More than 45 years ago, Acoustiguide invented the audio tour, and the company has remained at the leading edge of creativity and technology ever since. Acoustiguide provides audio programs for museums, heritage and historic sites, tourism attractions, zoos,
aquaria and corporate clients in 22 countries around the world. Acoustiguide offers complete creative and production services, the most advanced audio technology and comprehensive on-site management. For more information, visit www.acoustiguide.com.
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