On 4 May 2011, the National Sports Museum helped launch a brand new smart phone service that offers Australian sign language (Auslan) translations of audio tours in museums, galleries and other exhibition environments. Auslan is the first language for Deaf Australians, so it’s important for exhibiting organisations to provide information in that language.
The National Sports Museum (NSM) worked with Australian Communication Exchange (ACE) to bring Smart Auslan to life. The NSM already offered a successful audio tour using more than 30 numbered stops – but the information contained therein was not accessible to Deaf and hearing impaired visitors.
Deaf visitors to the NSM can now use Smart Auslan in two ways. Either they borrow a pre-loaded handset from the NSM counter, or they download the application onto their own Android mobile phone in advance of their visit. There is no charge for either service. (Please note: the Smart Auslan application is not, as yet, available on i-phones. Android devices use a system that’s more open to creating the required technology.)
Once inside the NSM, Deaf and hearing impaired visitors simply point the handset at the Quick Response code located at each numbered tour stop. The handset then displays an Auslan sign language translation of the same text that can be heard by users of the audio recording.
The first Deaf users of Smart Auslan were amazed by its ease of use and ability to connect them to the full museum experience. The NSM and ACE hope you too will be interested in opening your doors wider for Deaf and hearing impaired communities.
If you are interested in making your displays accessible using Smart Auslan, please contact Mr Phil Rogers, ACE’s Marketing and External Communications Manager on 07 3815 7616, or visit www.smartauslan.com.au for more information.
In my role as General Manager of Heritage and Tourism at the Melbourne Cricket Club, I would be happy to talk you through the process from the NSM’s perspective (phone 03 9657 8855 or email margaretb@mcc.org.au ).
If you come to the NSM (Gate 3 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground), you are welcome to use the handset to see how it works. For opening hours and other information, go to: www.nsm.org.au. Please note that admission is free for members of Museums Australia.
I hope this is of interest to you as we widen accessibility further in Australia’s exhibiting organisations.
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