> > We've just developed an audio tour for Prestongrange Museum 
> a large open air
> > site. In addition to being delivered via MP3 players which 
> can be used when
> > the museum buildings are open, the tour is available 
> through visitors' mobile
> > phones 24/7/365. I'm just in the process of putting the 
> accompanying web site
> > together. It should be up by Friday at 
> http://tour.prestongrange.org/ with
> > more information. I understand that this is a first for a 
> heritage site in
> > the UK.
> 
> Wow! That's technology eh?
> 

I know. Great, isn't it?

> I'd be interested in hearing how the patrons like this system 
> and how well it

So would I! 

> works. I don't have that many minutes on my mobile phone 
> because I don't use it
> that often. (Typically less than an hour a month.) So for me, 
> listening to an
> audio tour through my phone would be pretty costly. But it's 

The idea is that at each of the eight stops you would dial the number (0870 005 3161), then  when connected press the appropriate number for the stop, listen to the audio (about 2 to 3 minutes), then hang up, walk to the next stop and dial again.

> good that you have
> an alternative available when the museum is open. Plus, I 
> tend to discourage
> use of mobile phones whenever possible. Some people need to have them
> surgically removed from their ears. :)

I had the surreal experience of driving my daughter and two of her friends (they are all 14) to a dance lesson, while they were sending text messages to each other's phones. I assume it was so I couldn't overhear their conversation ;-)

> 
> Good luck with it!
> 
> deb
> 

Thanks. One of the issues was the probable cost to visitors, since there are so many different mobile phone charging schemes. Our estimate is that for the whole tour, for most visitors it will cost between £2.00 and £2.50. And for the exceptionally lazy, you can even do the tour while sat at home using your land line phone. Of course, you may find it hard to see the site from there...unless you look at the pictures on the web site at the same time (when I've finished setting it up, of course).

It seems to me to be a particularly good solution for small or less well-funded organisations, since the equipment cost is borne by the end users, as is the cost of the service delivery. There are no running costs for this service, because the bulk of the revenue generated by the calls goes to the service provider.

The official launch of this service isn't till 21 June, but this seemed a good opportunity to share the idea. 

Best wishes

Pete
-- 
Peter M Gray
Museums Officer


**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the sender and ensure it is deleted and not read copied or disclosed
to anyone else. It is your responsibility to scan this email and any
attachments for computer viruses or other defects. East Lothian
Council do not accept liability for any loss or damage which may
result from this email or any files attached. Email is not secure and
can be intercepted, corrupted or amended without the knowledge of the
sender. East Lothian Council do not accept liability for errors or
omissions arising as a result of interrupted or defective transmission.
**********************************************************************


______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email 
______________________________________________________________________

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).