Audio Guide

A portable or installed audio system that provides spoken descriptions, narratives, or contextual information about exhibits in a museum, gallery, or cultural venue. Audio guides range from traditional handheld devices with numbered stops to smartphone apps with location-triggered playback that automatically begins when a visitor approaches an artwork. For blind and low vision visitors, audio guides serve as a primary means of accessing exhibition content, providing descriptions of visual elements, historical context, and interpretive narrative. Effective audio guides for BLV visitors go beyond basic identification to offer detailed formal descriptions of artworks and guided tactile exploration instructions. Audio guides also benefit sighted visitors, making them a universal design tool that can enhance the experience for all museum-goers.