News

May 2008
Alive to the sound of interpretation

The first national park to sign up to mobitour says that the cutting edge technology is bringing the natural and cultural history of a Norfolk country park alive. The Broads Authority, together with Whitlingham Charitable Trust, commissioned the audio tour for Whitlingham Country Park as part of an integrated interpretation scheme for the 280-acre site of water, woodland and meadows, known as ‘The Gateway to the Broads’.

 

The tour takes in a three-mile walk around the park’s two broads with nine tactile story posts marking the stops along the route. Visitors can listen to a range of stories about the park’s fascinating cultural history and vibrant wildlife with layered audio interpretation enabling them to choose just how much information they want to discover. This includes an eccentric local army general, a cheeky wherryman and Whitlingham’s large cast of trees, birds and animals The tour is fully accessible and can be accessed by ringing 01603 510599 (a local Norwich number) and is available for up to 48 hours  at a cost of £1.50 and a local phone call.

 

The mobitour for Whitlingham Country Park was scripted and recorded by interpretation specialists Imagemakers Design and Consulting and was part of a much larger scheme including an internal exhibition area, exterior welcome, orientation and interpretation panels and a site leaflet. The scheme was funded by Norfolk Environmental Waste Services (NEWS), Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and English Heritage.

 

Whitlingham Country Park was formed by gravel workings and now has two broads, woodlands and meadows on the doorstep of the city of Norwich. It is managed by the Whitlingham Charitable Trust, The Broads Authority and Norfolk County Council.
February 2008
Dialing up the Romans

A Roman magistrate is taking visitors back in time at an archaeological site in Norfolk following the introduction of mobitour, the innovative mobile heritage tool. Very little remains of the once-thriving Roman town of Caistor, near Norwich, but by listening on their own mobile phones, visitors can now ‘see’ the sights in the company of magistrate Guyus Neepos.

 

The mobitour invites people to take on the role of guests to Venta Icenorum, as Caistor was known, and discover the basilica, forum, temples and bathhouse. They have the choice of three levels of information, from the tour by Guyus Neepos (complete with evocative sound effects) ideal for families to the much more detailed layer suitable for those with a specialist interest in archaeology. The audio is supported by discreet panels at each stop, which include a small reconstruction illustration and instructions on using mobitour

 

The mobitour for Caistor was commissioned by South Norfolk Council, which manages the site in partnership with the owners Norfolk Archaeological Trust.

 

Councillor Michael Windridge, South Norfolk Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Heritage, Enterprise and Culture said:

 

“This pioneering and exciting technology has enabled this isolated site to be brought to life, and for visitors to experience some of what it may have been like in it’s heyday. As the research project develops our understanding of the importance of Venta Icenorum, this technology is making that knowledge available to the ever increasing number of visitors.”

 

The tour, on 0207 112 1928 can also be accessed before and after a visit to Caistor.  A charge of £1.50 is levied, of which up to 50% goes to South Norfolk Council, and users also pay their mobile rate cost, although this could be free for people who have inclusive call packages. The recording, production and design has been carried out by Imagemakers, the interpretation company which developed mobitour, together with the scripting, which was written in consultation with Nottingham University’s Will Bowden, who is leading the archaeological investigation of the site.
July 2007
Ashridge on a different level

The National Trust’s Ashridge Estate is pioneering exciting technology that will help people enjoy their visit even more. Ashridge is the first National Trust property in the country to introduce mobitour, a new type of audio-tour where visitors use their own mobile phones to listen in and learn more about the Estate. The tour goes live on 18th July.

 

Mobitour opens up Ashridge to a whole range of people – in fact, to anyone who has a mobile phone – and introduces them to the history and wildlife of the ancient woodland and downland. Visitors can choose to go on The Woodland Tour; a self-guided short walk where they can discover some hidden clues to Ashridges past and the wider Estate tour, which features characters who once lived and worked at Ashridge – including an ancient ‘talking’ beech tree! The tour can be accessed before, after and during a visit and is available by dialling 01728 726 454 which is a dedicated number. A small charge is levied for the tour and users will also pay their normal mobile rate cost but for many people who have inclusive call packages this could be free. A real bonus for Ashridge is that the tours generate much needed revenue for the Estate.

 

Graeme Cannon, Property Manager at Ashridge says “We are very excited to be the first National Trust property to launch a mobitour. It’s marvellous that new technology can enable people of all abilities to learn more about the Estate through their mobile phones. We hope that people will take a mobitour and benefit the property at the same time.”

July 2007
Just launched, just launched...

Pioneering interpretative technology that will benefit heritage sites/tourist attractions and their visitors has recently been launched. Mobitour is an audio-tour with a difference: it is accessed by visitors using their own mobile phones which then produces an income for the site. Mobitour has already gone live on the National Trust’s Ashridge estate, and other locations including an archaeological site are lined up to introduce the scheme.

 

As well as receiving up to 50% of every tour sold, sites save on the leasing and maintenance costs associated with standard audio tours. Mobitour content can complement existing interpretation, be changed instantly and also include visuals and text. In addition, sites receive on-line marketing intelligence such as which features of the tour generate the most interest, and visitors can opt to receive text messages about upcoming events.

 

James Cokeham of mobitour said: “Mobitour really is the future of mobile heritage tours. It can reach audiences that other audio-tours don’t - a very high percentage of UK residents and visitors to this country own mobile phones, so mobitour has the potential to reach new and existing audiences of all ages and abilities, and it’s very user-friendly and easy to navigate. Mobitour can be set up at any site indoors or outdoors where mobile phone reception is available, and that’s improving all the time.”

Mobitour can be accessed before, after and during a visit by dialling a dedicated number. Visitors pay a small charge for the tour – part of which is refunded to the heritage site – and their normal mobile rate cost but for many people who have inclusive call packages this could be free. Mobitour has been developed by interpretation specialists Imagemakers Design and Consulting.


Mobitour 01837 840072; www.mobitour.co.uk

 

For more information, please contact James Cokeham on 01837 840072