Mobile Multilingual Label System
Exploratorium, San Francisco
Developed for the museum’s 2013 relocation to Pier 15
In association with NASA partnership
Visitors use built-in QR scanning on their own smart phones (BYOD) or free handheld touch devices the Exploratorium supplies for their visit.
A single QR code retrieves need-to-know exhibit-specific interpretive content in the visitor’s native language. On supplied devices, a scanning app is always-on and a quick shake toggles the camera back “on” when visitors move on to a new object/exhibit. This helps visitors remain engaged with the object/exhibit they’re in front of, and stay present with companions in the physical museum space. By design, there are no menus, buttons to press, typing or other distractions.
Technology: The system leverages a standard embedded HTTP "Accept Language" header to determine the language a smartphone is set to, then retrieves professionally translated exhibit-specific curated content from a web-based CMS. There is no limit to number of languages, exhibits or venues the system supports.