Hello Dr. Cleveland,
It seems the best way to approach this is with a computer display in kiosk mode (really a web browser without the toolbar and frame). All necessary buttons would be within the browser window. To save money, they could be activated by a mouse, but the interactive would also work on a touch screen.
The image on the opening screen should be both enticing and clear as to what the interactive does. I recommend a nice photo-montage of people on the island, past and present. The title needs to be simple and clear, so people know right away that there are good stories to hear, and that they can add their own.
A button labeled "Add Your Voice" would send the visitors to a recording screen, where they can record their stories and hear them, to see if they like how they sound. It might be nice to use a vintage, heavy-duty microphone (or at least its body and windscreen), both for durability and for nostalgia.
There could be a form set up where visitors can add their names, if they like, or any other useful information to help categorize the stories. All fields would be optional, of course, for privacy reasons (or in case a visitor is in the Federal Witness Protection Program). At the top of the form would be a label that says "Help put your story in context." Then below it, another label that says "(But you can skip this step and go right to record by clicking here.)", right above a button that says "Skip".
The interactive could record the voices, and save the recordings for later playing by other visitors. It could be set up with the option to re-record, in case the visitor doesn't like the first take. I think it would be a good idea for the interactive to save all takes, in case you think one is better than another. You can then pick the best one and save it.
The stories would end up in a directory the visitors can see on a window that pops up when visitors click on or touch the button labeled "Hear the Stories". Each story can have a name that indicates what sort of story it is.
For the hearing impaired, you could use voice-to-text to make text versions of the stories, which would be available in another window labeled "Text Versions". That need not be incorporated directly in the interactive for live recording, as you can add those text versions later.
It would be a good idea to put this interactive in a quiet area, or at least shielded by some sort of enclosure or dome, to block outside noises.
Cordially,
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Paul Pallansch
Dot-Connector,
Up-Close Realism
Silver Spring MD
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-11-2021 07:10 PM
From: Denise Cleveland
Subject: Interactive Exhibit
Hello Everyone,
I represent a very small Historical Museum on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Throughout the summer we have many visitors who like to tell us how much they love LBI, how long they have been coming to the island, and some even identify family members in our many photos of the people who lived here in the past. I would like to arrange an interactive exhibit where visitors can share their stories and in turn read other visitors' stories as well. Since all our staff are volunteers, I am limited as to how I can go about doing this. If anyone has any ideas to share, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you,
Denise Cleveland Ed.D
Long Beach Island HIstorical Museum
Beach Haven, NJ