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The Interactive Audioguide

PICKUP from Dataton, is a personal interactive audioguide for use in museums, galleries and exhibitions - anywhere you need direct information and freedom of movement. The PICKUP audioguide unit is small, lightweight, and features a clear display and user-friendly navigation buttons.

PICKUP is exceptionally easy for the visitor to use. Simply point the unit at the object of interest and its associated hotspot transponder and click the yellow button. It's as simple as that. With its intuitive user interface and excellent sound quality, PICKUP will enhance every visitor's experience.

PICKUP can also be used without hotspots as a linear or sequential tour. This means that the visitor is directed along a single described route around the site. At the end of each audio segment the visitor is directed by narration on the audioguide to the next exhibit in the sequence. When the visitor gets to the next exhibit, a simple press of a button on the PICKUP continues the tour with the relevant audio.

PICKUP will work with any type of headphones or earpiece. There is also a hearing aid adaptor for the hard of hearing.

PICKUP is also exceptionally easy to program as the audio files are stored on a smartmedia card in the PICKUP unit. Changes to the tour can be made by the use of a card reader connected to a PC or Mac computer. Although Orbital are experts in the creation of audiotours and would be happy to do this for you, there may be occasions where you would want to create you own audioguide content. Orbital can provide the required equipment and training to make this possible.


Key PICKUP Features

  • Large audio capacity
    128MB Smartmedia cards can store two hours of full bandwidth stereo audio or up to sixteen hours of narration quality audio. The use of larger capacity cards is planned in the future.
  • Multi language and multi level
    A PICKUP system can provide a limitless number of simultaneous tours, subject only to the storage capacity of the smartcard. These tours can be different languages (eg English, French, German), levels (eg children, adults, experts) or fulfil a special function (eg tours for disabled or visually impaired visitors). It is easy to add additional tours at the outset or at a later stage.
  • Hotspot triggering - No numbers to find or buttons to press
    The receiver pack can be held in the hand or worn on a lanyard around the neck. Visitors select which audio segments they want to listen to by pointing and clicking the hotspot transponder next to the object of interest. There are no numbers to find or multiple buttons to press, just a simple point and click, allowing the visitor to enjoy the experience without holding a handset to the ear.
  • More info
    Where more detail is required, pressing one button on the PICKUP allows for extra levels of information to be provided.
  • Easy to use
    A PICKUP system is not only easy for the visitor to use, but also for your staff. After basic training venue staff will be able to look after the daily operation of the system.
  • Indoor and outdoor use
    There are no limitations to where the exhibits are situated. Hotspots can be mounted in waterproof enclosures allowing tours to continue outdoors.
  • Create or update your own audiotour
    With PICKUP, it is extremely easy to update your own audiotour. Editing and amending the audio can be done using a smartcard reader connected to a PC or Mac computer. We can even provide the equipment and training required for your organisation to create your own audiotour from scratch.
  • Customised graphics
    PICKUP units and earpieces can be supplied with personalised logos and text. PICKUP units can be manufactured to a specific colour if required (subject to a minimum quantity).
  • Security system
    PICKUP units can be supplied with internal security tags to activate an alarm fitted at the venue exits. This can be adapted to integrate with your existing electronic security systems if necessary.
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PICKUP Equipment

The PICKUP unit weighs just 65 grams and fits snugly in your hand. It features a clear display and touch-friendly navigation buttons. Its size and design make it suitable for right-handed and left-handed users, children and people with sight disabilities. The PICKUP unit is powered by a built-in Lithium Polymer battery. A completely drained battery takes two hours to recharge and will then operate for 5-10 hours continuously.

Sound is stored on a smartmedia card inserted into the PICKUP unit. The 128MB card allows two hours of full bandwidth stereo audio or 16 hours of narration quality mono.

A comfortable carrying strap is available. This also acts as a security device ensuring that the smartcard cannot be removed.

The receiver is fitted with two 3.5mm stereo jack sockets compatible with a wide variety of earpieces and headsets.

A hearing aid adaptor allows the PICKUP unit to be used by hearing impaired visitors. Simply place the loop of the adaptor around the neck, plug the adaptor into a headphone socket on the PICKUP unit, and set the hearing aid to the 'T' setting.

There are several charging options for the PICKUP system. The ten-unit charger is suitable for most small applications. It can sit on a desktop and just needs to be plugged into a mains socket. No system is too small for PICKUP. A personal charger sits on a desktop and can be used to charge a single PICKUP.

The forty-way pickup charger rack can be used for larger applications. It can be mounted in a 19 inch rack or it can sit on a desktop. By mounting thirteen of these units in a 2m high rack, you can get enough space for 520 pickup units within a 50cm × 50cm footprint.

The hotspot transponder is discrete being only 3cm in diameter. A hotspot is mounted next to each item of interest, for example a painting in a gallery or an exhibit in a museum. The visitor chooses what to listen to by pointing their PICKUP unit at the hotspot transponder next to the item of interest and pressing the play button on the PICKUP unit. The hotspot in powered by a battery that lasts for two to three years (allow for an annual battery change). There is an adhesive pad on the back of the hotspot and a screw hole to aid fixing.
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