Earlier this month, I was part of a panel on the use of QR Codes at the annual NEMA conference. We created a handout with some basic information and instructions for creating QR codes and linking content in-house. The process is actually quite simple, if you have the time to DIY. I attach an abbreviated version of the handout here (I stripped out information that is not relevant to what you're doing) and hope it might be useful.
I second the recommendation to provide brief information about the audio content in the exhibit labels. If the content is going to be longer than a minute, I also recommend including information about the length of the audio clip. As noted by others, some audiences may need guidance for accessing the content.
Another thing that you didn't ask about and have probably already thought of: what about visitors without smart phones? [I see this as an accessibility issue that is sometimes related to economics.] Also, I know from research conducted at Mystic Seaport Museum that some visitors are reluctant to access content with their phones because of privacy and security concerns. Laminated sheets with printed text might be the way to go as an alternative.
One last thought: noise pollution. In my experiences, almost no one uses ear buds or earphones to accesses audio content in museum galleries. The spill can be aggravating to others, and so a gentle reminder asking visitors to use these accessories might help (or, might not).
I hope this is helpful. It sounds like a terrific exhibit.
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Katherine] Hijar, Ph.D.
Historian
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
San Francisco, California
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-16-2022 10:54 AM
From: Sarah Gordon
Subject: QR codes to access audio clips
Hello. I'm curating an exhibit that comes out of a community oral history project and need to incorporate audio into the design. We are planning to use QR codes that visitors can scan using cell phones; the audio tracks will live on our website as a digital component of the exhibit. We decided that this would be the best way for visitors to listen to short excerpts from the interviews; we don't want to pay for hardware that people may be reluctant to use anyway, want to give people the choice to listen, and have too many clips in too small a space to play them as ambient sound.
Does anyone have experience using codes to access audio and have comments or suggestions regarding the process, user experience, and overall results? Do you have recommendations (or warnings) regarding the companies that generate the codes? Thank you!
Sincerely,
Sarah Gordon
Curator, Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History
Kingston, New York
curator@rehercenter.org
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Sarah Gordon PhD
Curator
New York NY
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