Exploring the Unassuming Audio Guide: An In-depth Investigation
In the early 1960s, the Science Museum in London made history by introducing radio-guided tours, a groundbreaking innovation in the world of museums and heritage sites. This pioneering move was not only a step forward for the museum but also set a precedent for institutions worldwide.
The competition to be the first to introduce this technology was fierce, with the Science Museum and Woburn Abbey, owned by the thirteenth Duke of Bedford, vying for the title. However, it was the Science Museum that emerged victorious, launching its audio tours four years earlier than Woburn Abbey.
Each tour consisted of a tape player, a radio transmitter, and portable radio-receivers, known as 'lorgnettes'. These hand-held devices allowed visitors to explore the museum at their own pace, receiving detailed explanations through wireless receivers and headphones. The newer galleries at the Science Museum, designed following the principles of the picturesque, were selected to host these innovative tours.
The picturesque was a design approach used to engage visitors and evoke emotions such as awe and wonder. The radio-guided tours, therefore, complemented the museum's spatial and narrative design, enabling curated pathways and thematic engagement tied to the layout and content of the displays. This relationship to exhibition landscapes was a significant aspect of the tours' success.
The Iron and Steel Gallery was the first to prepare a radio-guided tour, followed by the Electric Power, Sailing Ships, Acoustics galleries, and the new Centre Block in the Science Museum. Unfortunately, the scheme was abandoned in 1964, just four years after its launch. Today, a tape player, magnetic tape, and a handful of 'lorgnette' radio receivers reside in the Science Museum's stores at Blythe House, serving as a reminder of this pioneering era in museum interpretation.
Dr. Jennifer Rich, a Cultural Engagement Fellow at the University of Nottingham, is currently working on a project called 'Acoustics on Display: Collecting and Curating Sound at the Science Museum'. Her research aims to delve deeper into the history of audio guides and their connection to exhibition landscapes, providing valuable insights into the development and impact of these innovative technologies on museum experiences.
While the Science Museum's radio-guided tours marked an important point in the history of audio guides, further research is needed to fully understand their evolution and the strategies used in their integration with exhibition landscapes. By exploring museum studies literature and specific museum archives, we can gain a better understanding of how these technologies have shaped visitor interaction with exhibitions over the years.
[1] History of Science Museum, Oxford [2] National Radio Astronomy Observatory tours [3] Niagara Science Museum
[1] The History of Science Museum in Oxford could uncover exciting insights about the evolution of technology in museums, potentially tracing the influence of early audio guides like those at the Science Museum in London.
[2] It would be fascinating to study the impact of technology on visitor experiences, such as the guided tours at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, which may employ cutting-edge technology to enhance astronomical education and exploration.
[3] An analysis of the Niagara Science Museum's exhibition landscape and accompanying audio guides could shed light on how they employ technology to create engaging experiences that evoke awe and wonder, much like the pioneering radio-guided tours from the 1960s.
