Mencap Cymru – Audio interpretation with a twist
This months newsletter looks at some of the more interesting bbav solutions used by Mencap for their new travelling exhibition – part of the ‘Hidden Now Heard’ project which aims to shine a light on the hidden heritage of people with learning disabilities in Wales.
Speaker Pillow
With a pressure pad placed under the sheets and a speaker hidden within the pillow, a genuine hospital bed (the same patients to Wales’ long-stay hospitals closed in 2006 would have slept in) was turned into an audio point. Visitors lay down and listen to various oral histories or simply use the available headphones if they preferred.
Jukebox
We retrofitted an off-the-shelf jukebox with our own audio player (the SoundClip-8) and 8 illuminated buttons. Visitors can now press each of the buttons to hear tales from former staff and patients set against their favourite music.
Period Telephone
A staged nurses desk was arranged with a visitor book, looping media screen and period telephone. The phone was programmed with clips provided by former staff members allowing visitors to dial up the past and hear their stories. The phone can be used to provide a message on pickup, or also to play up to 99 messages by dialling numbers 0-99.
Period Radio
A period radio was customised to contain our solid state audio player (much like the jukebox) however in this instance buttons were not required as the audio is set to play on loop. We are able to fit any genuine or replica period radios to play audio on loop or even via use of the dials – tuning in various audio tracks.
PIR Toilet Flush
The faux toilet was given a twist through the use of a PIR (Passive Infrared) activated Message in a Speaker (MIAS). When visitors enter the small area to read the informative signage the MIAS detects them and plays a flushing sound.
Want to read more about this?
Through great use of standard and bespoke AV options coupled with various thought provoking installations the travelling Hidden Now Heard exhibition was able to tell a valuable story – achieving Mencap’s aim of preserving this important part of Welsh heritage.
Read more about this project and others like it using the button below or contact us to discuss your interpretive needs today!
