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Use audio files to increase accessibility of exhibits for visitors.
Give visitors who do not speak Icelandic or cannot/ do not want to read text descriptions equal access to information in the museum
Make the exhibition feel more ´ínteractive’ , bring a specific period in history to life.
General Visitors
Non - Icelandic Speaking Visitors
Visually Impaired Visitors, and those who prefer to listen instead of reading exhibit descriptions
Visitors from outside the Region /outside Iceland who cannot visit in person
Iceland
National and General Funds- including grant funding
Very user friendly.
Low cost- limited mostly to labour costs to write ‘scripts’ , generate AI audio files and upload audio files and photographs to (free) IZI.travel website.
Very accessible as most contemporary visitors own mobile phones.
Initiative can be modified, updated and expanded easily. MMÞ is in the process of implementing this in additional permanent exhibits.
Can also be easily expanded to include more languages
Relies on stable wifi access as some visitors do not have mobile data when visiting from abroad.
Izi.travel website has to be monitored regularly to ensure it is still fully operational
Some older visitors may need explanation of how the QR codes work or may be resistant to use this technology
Despite the widespread use of cellphones there are still many people who do not have them
Visitors need to be made aware of the QR code as they enter the exhibits
Digital solutions employed QR codes
Website Izi.travel to host exhibition audio files and photographs online
Cellphones
Wifi access for visitors
AI voice software to provide clear English language descriptions/narratives
Increased engagement from visitors, especially those of foreign origin
Longer museum visits as visitors stop to listen as they move through the exhibition
Visitors report feeling more connected to the exhibits and local history as they hear contemporary personal accounts by local people. They were more likely to ask questions of museum staff becuase of something they heard.
Some visitors report wanting to share with family and friends at home, which increases the reach of the museum
Translation of Icelandic text into English
How to generate audio files using AI
Knowledge of Izi.Travel website ( how to upload files/ photographs etc)
Visitors scan a QR code with their cellphones at the entrance to the exhibition.
They then access a dedicated web page with colour photographs and short audio files (voiced by Artificial Intelligence) describing museum exhibits exploring the connection between man and nature in the period 1850 to 1950.
Contemporary personal accounts by local people guide guests through the exhibition
Visitors can read the texts on their phones in addition to/instead of listening to the files.
This initiative enhances exhibition accessibility through a mobile-accessible, AI-narrated audio guide that connects visitors to stories about the interaction between people and nature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Key features of the methodology include:
This approach makes the museum more inclusive, interactive, and engaging, especially for those who cannot read exhibit text due to language or visual barriers.
Core Resources:
Estimated Start-up Cost:
If using a freelance translator and paid AI tools, costs may be slightly higher (€500–€1,000).
This model is already very low-cost, but here’s how it can be adapted for even smaller or more remote institutions:
Estimated Low-Cost Implementation:
This makes it a highly transferable, accessible, and scalable practice for small museums and local cultural centers.
