Interfacing with history: curating with audio augmented objects

Abstract

This article presents and discusses the results from visitors’ interactions with two audio augmented reality experiences containing audio augmented objects; physical, real-world objects to which virtual audio sources have been attached. It then proceeds to discusses the commonly identified themes arising from the observation of visitors’ behaviour within these experiences and the analysis of their verbal and written feedback. The curatorial potential of audio augmented objects is discussed and, by way of conclusion, their functionality as interfaces to digital audio archival content is proposed, along with their ability to reframe, re-contextualise and create renewed experiences with existing collections of silenced museum exhibits.