[Nhcoll-l] Seeking insight and examples: Creating audio guides for different visitor types

[Thor Martin Jensen]

I'm exploring how museums are approaching a challenge I keep hearing about:
creating audio interpretation that serves different types of visitors
without overwhelming production resources.

The ideal scenario would be having different narrative tracks available in
the same exhibition:

   - A version for children that sparks curiosity
   - A scholarly version for those with deep knowledge
   - A general visitor version with essential context
   - Versions for accessibility needs (blind visitors, neurodivergent
   visitors, etc.)
   - All of the above in multiple languages for international audiences

But I rarely see this in practice. Is this not really in demand from
visitors? Is it a resource constraint? A strategic choice? Are there
museums doing this well that I should look at?

I'm exploring this through developing Walkie Talkie, an audio guide
platform, and created a small demonstration (8 masterworks in 8 languages)
to test the concept: https://walkietalk.ie/c/eBW7t5qU

But I'm more interested in learning from this group:

   - Has anyone implemented multiple narrative tracks for different
   audiences in the same exhibition?
   - What were the challenges (production time, visitor confusion,
   maintenance)?
   - Are there successful case studies I should examine?
   - Is this something visitors actually want, or is it solving a problem
   that doesn't exist?

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who's tried this or thought deeply about
it
*Sincerely / Med Venlig Hilsen*

Thor Martin Baerug

Connect at:
linkedin.com/company/walkietalk-ie/
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/walkietalk-ie/> | walkietalk.ie/
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