Constance,

We provide interactive electronic systems for use in museum exhibits.  This
includes a range of digital audio repeaters.  You can get more information
on our website (specifically,
http://www.innova-at.com/moreinfo/systmodu/systmodu.html).

I would not suggest using a CD player in a museum environment.  The basic
reason is that most consumer model CD players are not intended for constant
use and you will end up replacing them on a fairly regular basis.  There are
some industrial quality CD players which will last longer than the consumer
models and have a proportionately higher cost.  These can be appropriate in
certain situations but are generally cost prohibitive a still prone to
mechanical failure.  This is also true for industrial grade DVD players.

We recently worked with FAO Schwarz to provide an repeating audio background
(similar to what you described).  They had been using CD players in their
stores and the constant maintenance was a real problem for them.

Digital audio repeaters have no moving parts to wear which eliminates the
most problem prone components.  If you would like to further discuss the
trade-offs of the various approaches please give me a call.

-Mark-

 * Mark Fowle, General Manager
 * INNOVA Applied Technology
 * 2841 East 19th Street
 * Signal Hill, CA 90804
 * Email: [log in to unmask]
 * http://www.INNOVA-AT.com/
 * Phone: (800) 417-9060
 * Fax: (800) 773-7694

 * Providers of Interactive Solutions *

----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 7:36 AM
Subject: museum audio related question


> Allow me to say that I appreciate any help you can give us on this. I am
> trying to send this to both a few lists, and individuals. To anyone I have
> sent this to if this isn't an area you have any idea about, feel free to
> send it on to someone who might know about this. To people who have no
idea
> what I mean and have no idea who to forward this to, sorry to bother you
and
> thank you for your attention.
>
> I have a question for (you or) your list, I am not subscribed to your
list,
> so I would appreciate it if you would send any responses directly to me.
>
> On with the question: My sister organization is setting up an exhibit on
> immigration to our area, and one of the ideas they had was putting up an
> audio area where there would be the babble of voices in other languages
both
> conversational in tone and ordering you around, as if you were in the
lobby
> of Ellis Island and people were both talking around you and trying to tell
> you what to do. We have an English language center in town where we hope
to
> get people to speak into the microphone to give us this background sound.
> Now for the actual meat of the question: we want this to either run
> continuously or start up on a motion detector type thing. Should we try to
> get it on a digital player, digital audio tape, or what? I want to avoid
the
> rewind time of a tape system. Does any one know more than I do about the
new
> technologies out there? What would work best? Any other ideas I haven't
> mentioned?
>
> Thank you all in advance for your help.
>
> Constance L. Jones
> Project Director
> Business & Media Archives of the Mahoning Valley
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
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