How do you write an audio guide?
How do I create an audio guide? And how do I get started? We share practical tips on structure, style and language.
Accessibility in museums is a key issue that affects all areas of museum work. In fact, accessibility issues are becoming increasingly important in museum work. But how can we contribute to ensuring that there is standard, intuitive and barrier-free access for all in cultural institutions instead of selective special solutions?
What does accessibility mean? Accessibility describes obstacle-free access and opportunities for everyone, regardless of physical, cognitive or sensory limitations. This applies not only to structural and physical measures, but also to all services and offers. In museums, for example, this starts with the accessibility of the website and also includes accessible educational formats such as audio guides.
How can audio guides be made accessible? For example, you can use audio guides to offer videos in sign language, as well as audio tours in simple language or with audio descriptions for visually impaired visitors.
People living with visual impairments, in particular, often know exactly how to use their smartphones and the VoiceOver feature on iOS and TalkBack on Android. The web app from Wonnder (formerly Audio-Cult) is designed to provide optimal support for these features across all browsers. It is intended to be simple and intuitive, so that everyone can make the most of their own device. Combined with the transcript feature—for example, for people who are hard of hearing or deaf—we offer an accessible museum guide solution as standard.
How do I create an accessible audio guide? VoiceOver and TalkBack are included right from the start and can be called up as standard. This means that you as a guide do not have to do anything from a technical point of view when creating the accessible audio guide. We ensure that your visitors can use their smartphone intuitively and automatically access their preferred accessibility features.
Tips for creating an accessible audio guide for your museum: Think about what you can offer your audience in terms of content - audio-descriptive audio guides, tours in easy or simple language and various narratives enable inclusive museum experiences for a wide audience.
What is audio description and how is it used?
Audio-descriptive audio guides help non-sighted people to visualize an object. Objects and actions are described acoustically so that visually impaired and blind people can follow the action.
What distinguishes simple language and why is it important?
Simplelanguage dispenses with complicated foreign words and sentence structures. Complex texts are thus made accessible to as broad a population as possible. Simple language thus contributes to social participation.
What are the characteristics and advantages of easy language?
Easylanguage consists of simple words and short sentences. This is particularly helpful for people with intellectual disabilities. Easy language also helps people who have problems learning. Plain language goes much further in simplifying language than simple language.
Thetrue art lies sometimes in simplicity. To achieve this, the Wonnder team collaborated with an expert from the Swiss Federation of the Blind. The Swiss Federation of the Blind’s mission is to play a key role in creating a society where blind and visually impaired people can enjoy a high quality of life and inclusion. Our consultant, who has been blind since birth, not only contributed his own experience as a user of digital applications but, as a software developer, was also able to support us with relevant tips during the development process. The use of so-called ARIA labels ensures that all interactive controls are properly labeled and can be used by blind and visually impaired people with the help of their usual assistive technologies.
Together with our partners, we create inclusive offers and enable more and more visitors to experience art and culture. Museum Guides can contribute to greater inclusion. While we continue to develop the technology, we are also advancing the content with our partner institutions. The Migros Museum of Contemporary Art has the first audio-descriptive tour and inclusive audio guides, which are supplemented on site by sign language services.
How are great audio experiences created?
