audioguider

Audioguide is a portable device or software application that delivers recorded narration to visitors during a self-guided tour. It enables people to explore a museum, gallery, historic site, or city route at their own pace, often with translations, maps, and pacing controls. Traditional audioguides use standalone hardware players with headsets, while contemporary systems rely largely on smartphone apps or web-based players.

Delivery methods include preloaded devices, QR codes or NFC tags, beacons that trigger audio as you approach an exhibit, and GPS-enabled routes for outdoor tours. Content is usually curated by historians or educators and produced with professional narration, multiple languages, and accessibility options such as transcripts or subtitles.

Content is intended to be concise yet informative, aligning with exhibit labels and curatorial aims. Modern audioguides often utilize app platforms, allowing seamless updates, offline access, and richer media such as images or video captions.

They are widely used in museums, galleries, archaeological sites, zoos, and walking tours. Benefits include visitor control, ability to revisit content, multilingual access, and reduced staff workload. Drawbacks include equipment costs, maintenance, potential technical failures, and the need for reliable offline access or Wi-Fi. Privacy concerns may arise when location tracking is used.

Audioguides emerged in the mid-20th century as standalone devices and later spread with portable media players; the rise of smartphones in the 2010s transformed many programs toward app-based solutions, though venues often offer a choice between hardware and mobile options.