I've been working on the Getty's audio programming for a few years now
and want to address some of the comments that have come up recently.
1. VISITOR CONTROL:  The idea that using audio doesn't allow the user
to have control doesn't consider random access technology.  Typically
a tape cassette tour controls a visitors path and the order in which
visitors hear the audio.  We are using a random access player that
allows visitors to choose what 60 - 90 second audio segment they want
to hear and in what order.  We also offer additional second level
information (artist's impression, a conservator's perspective) that a
visitor can choose as well.
2. SECURITY:  At present, we collect photo I.D.s and that's pretty
effective.  I wish we didn't have to, but after a two week test with
the honor system, we found that people just didn't return them.
Audioguides were left on gallery benches, in plant pots, bathrooms and
some just plain disappeared.  In addition, our site is very open.
There is no primary entrance and exits so having security checking at
the Entrance Hall door is not enough.
3. AUDIO AND MULTIPLE VISITORS:  We have studied visitors in the
galleries who wear audioguides and they do talk with one another.  We
use headphones because it offers higher audio quality than without and
do not see it as a distraction.  When we started this project, we all
agreed that the audio tour should be seamless.  People should forget
about it.  In a utopia, the 60 voices of curators, conservators,
educators and artists we have on the audioguide would be live, but
that's just not possible.  Also, we have a number of audio stops that
encourage family visitors to interact.  One audio segment pauses with
a question being asked, for example, and when the child and parent
think they know the answer or want to find out the rest of the story,
they press the play button to continue.

Bottom line, I think audio tours can be very good and very bad, but I
think we have to move beyond the point that just because Museum people
don't use them is a reason to be discouraged about their usefulness.
Visitors are telling us something different.

Alison Glazier
Education/Media Projects
J. Paul Getty Museum, x7203