iPod Touch as a museum tour guide

i'm not sure this is the right place to ask that question, but i'm also not sure where to redirect you to.
it's an interesting use for the iPod touch. i'm not sure i would choose the touch for this particular use. apart from it being an expensive option, the iPod touch has many other features which wouldn't be used in this situation, i think that one of the more basic iPods would be a better option.

You may want to contact someone at the museums featured in that article and ask them your questions directly. I would doubt that anyone from those organizations participates here, though you never know.

My guess is that those organizations that provide the iPods themselves prevent theft by financial means; that is, they require identification and a credit card to which they can charge a replacement cost should the iPod not be returned. But you'd have to ask the organizations to be sure.

Regards.

Steve_F wrote:
I've read about these here ... http://www.apple.com/uk/pro/profiles/tatemedia/
and here .... http://www.apple.com/uk/ipod/ipodtours/
And checked out the 'iPod Notes' guide implying that you can do it all quite simply.
- how do you stop people stealing them?

You don't! Some members of the public will "forget" to return them (guaranteed), and if they do return them, the iPod will have been dropped or otherwise damaged. They are fragile devices, after all. As you realise, charging will be an issue, as will any headphones you supply.

If you check the text at the top of the http://www.apple.com/uk/ipod/ipodtours/ page you mention, it says "Now that the perfect tour guide comes in handy pocket size, world-renowned institutions are taking note and _making podcasts",_ and further on it also says: "If your institution would like to use iPod as a tour guide, look no further than a Mac and GarageBand. _A few easy-to-follow tutorials will have you producing people-pleasing podcasts in no time."_

Podcasts are the key here, not the iPod itself! In fact, it doesn't even need to be a Podcast - it's an mp3 file. See below. (I've thought about using an iPod for tour guides for an organisation I'm involved with which is why I suggest the following.)

You do not hand out iPods - you create Podcasts, which is an mp3 file that can be played on any mp3 player and many mobile phones. Those Podcasts are then downloaded by people onto their own iPods, other brand of mp3 player or even their mobile phones before arriving at the museum. Yes - I know what you are going to say - that it depends upon people knowing about it before travelling, but it's early days for Podcasts and even earlier for what you want to do, but the iPod can do it.

For example: in the organisation I'm involved with, my idea was to create a Podcast which is then made available to download though the iTunes Store and linked from our own web site. I guess this would be in addition to our wand type units rather than replace them, but we have to start somewhere.

Alternatively, simply create your audio guide as an mp3 file, which the public can download directly from you web site onto their own player or phone. In either case, promoting the audio guide on your site is the key to the public using it.

If you have no experience of Podcasts, check them out in the iTunes Store in order that you understand how they work as a user. I suggest this because - as I've stated - I have thought about this myself and I do not believe that the audio guide actually needs to be a Podcast.

Phil
P.S. If you doubt what I say about how members of the public will treat your iPods, watch the video (1 min 41 secs) I found last night on YouTube; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jUZuBAMG-w to see how the owner of this iPhone treats his own property - just watch at the very end! He does the same thing on another video!

Message was edited by: the fiend

You do not hand out iPods

Allowing customers to use their own iPods is certainly an option where possible and where it's practical for the visitor to download the podcast prior to visiting. But the Tate Museum says that they have iPods available for rent by visitors, so one organization at least is providing them, and that does bring up the question of theft and abuse prevention.