Attachment14_DescriptiveExhibitTourInstallationEquipmentGuide.pdf

iBeacons and Audio Streaming

Installation Guide

Attachment 14

Descriptive Exhibit Tour

Interior Exhibit Module

Installation and Equipment Guide

MAY 2020

ATTACHMENT 14 -- HAVO Design Build Contract

A. OVERVIEW

The descriptions of audio live streams for the Descriptive Exhibit Tour (DET) Interior Exhibit Module (IEM) App are triggered by Bluetooth beacon devices conforming to Apple’s iBeacon protocol. Audio Description (AD) of media such as video or touchscreen interactives can be streamed to the DET-IEM as well. Before the app can be made available to the public, the beacons and the AD streaming hardware must be installed in the visitor center. The sections below address the installation process for the beacons, for the audio streaming hardware, and for inputting the AD scripts into the DET-IEM spreadsheets for integration into the app itself.

B. iBEACON INSTALLATION

There are a variety of considerations to consider in determining the number and location of the beacons. This requires coordination between the installation contractor and the audio describer, since the organization and menu options of the AD will depend on the number and location of beacons.

Spacing is probably the single greatest constraint on the location of the beacons. A general rule of thumb is to separate the beacons by a minimum distance of 10 feet.

Unfortunately, many things can interfere with the beacon signal. The radio wave-frequency signals will reflect off some surfaces and be absorbed by others, leading to erratic and fluctuating signal reception at a handheld device. Human bodies affect the signal as well, so the number and density of visitors in the space will change the beacons’ behavior.

Therefore, although using a floorplan to assign beacon locations is appropriate for planning purposes, the final placements must be determined through on-site testing.

The best way to test beacon response is by using the DET-IEM itself. This means, you must have setup the DET-IEM spreadsheets so that a target for the park in question can be created before you arrive on site. If the AD tour scripts have not yet been finalized, you may use dummy data in the spreadsheets. All that is required is enough content to allow you to determine the correct zone is being triggered.

In determining the best way to secure the beacons in the space, several somewhat contradictory considerations must be considered. Since the beacons are battery- powered, they must be accessible and easy removed by park staff on a regular basis to replace the batteries. On the other hand, they must be secure from interference by park visitors, especially children. Hiding them inside cabinets may be good from a security aspect, but that will reduce the signal.

The following sections address the specific tasks during the pre-installation planning phase, the on-site installation and the post-installation wrap-up.

B-1. PRE-INSTALLATION PLANNING

Step 1: Floorplan Review

Using a scaled floorplan of the exhibit area, develop a tentative location plan for beacon placement. Use the 10-foot minimum spacing as a rough guide. Exhibit content can help determine natural divisions into zones for the AD tour. If you have access to exhibit elevations, such as in a Design Document II, you can begin to plan where on the exhibits the beacons can be placed.

If live audio streaming will be required, mark the location of the sources on the floorplan and decide upon the location for the audio server and WIFI router. Audio cabling will need to be run from each audio source to the server location.

Step 2: Acquire the Beacons

There are many brands available and their performance in general seems to be comparable. One consideration is whether internet access is required to configure the beacon settings. Although you can (and should) preconfigure the settings, sometimes on-site tweaking is desirable. Many remote parks do not have internet access – or even cell service.

Sometimes the quality can be uneven, and you will find one of the beacons emits a poor signal compared to others in the same batch. If that happens, the easiest solution is just to replace the beacon. Recommend purchasing at least 10-15% more beacons than will be deployed.

Step 3: Configure Beacon Settings

If you do not already have it, download the manufacturer’s beacon management app.

Activate each beacon and set its UUID, major and minor designations. Check with Harper’s Ferry Center for the current UUID numbering conventions. If they have no preference, the default setting will work fine. The UUID number is input into the DET- IEM spreadsheets.

The major setting should correspond to the zones you have identified for the installation. These will also be input in the DET-IEM spreadsheets. The minor number is not used by the DET-IEM app – set this to 1. As you configure the beacons record any identifying number on each unit. This should be included in the maintenance manual. This is also a good time to label each beacon with its major number. That will help park personnel return them to the proper locations after replacing the batteries are reinstalling if the facility is unopen during the winter.

There are two other settings you may wish to adjust – the transmission power and the advertising interval. However, in absence of other information, the default settings make a good starting point.

Transmission power is measured in dBs, usually less than 1. A beacon broadcasting at

-4dB is putting out more signal than one at -8dB. Most beacon power settings vary in steps of 4dB, which is a large difference. For best performance, all beacons in a single installation should be at the same power setting.

Advertising intervals are set in milliseconds. Settings in the range of 500 to 100 milliseconds are usually appropriate. The smaller the number, the shorter the battery life, but sometimes a good response requires the smaller settings.

Step 4: Setup the DET-IEM Spreadsheets

In preparation of transferring the audio description script to the DET-IEM spreadsheets ensure the script does not contain any special characters. The NPS app framework does not allow the use of special characters. They are typically revealed as question marks when transferred to the spreadsheet. It is advised that once the script is accepted you convert the script to text format and remove all special characters prior to transferring the content to the spreadsheets.

Once you have a completed AD script, all the content should be input into the spreadsheets. If you do not, then dummy data must be used. Something along the lines of “This is zone 4” will be adequate for testing purposes.

Here are the different spreadsheets and what goes into each one and each column.

Spreadsheet names are “IEM v2 - Exhibits.csv”, “IEM v2 - Rooms.csv”, and “IEM v2 - Details.csv”.

Spreadsheet 1 Exhibits: Fields for this spreadsheet are ID, TITLE, SUMMARY, and

DESCRIPTION.

1. ID field is numbered 0 through the number of Visitor Center with 0 used as the General Description of how to use the app.

2. TITLE field is the name of the tour.

3. SUMMARY field is a purpose statement.

4. DESCRIPTION field is body text of the tour description.

Spreadsheet 2 Rooms: Fields for this spreadsheet are ID, EXHIBIT ID, SITE ID, BEACON MINOR, BEACON MAJOR, ACCURACY THRESHOLD, 3FEET ZONE

ACCURACY THRESHOLD, 10 FEET ACCURACY THRESHOLD, NOT BEACON ID,

NEAR BEACON ID, AND OVERVIEW.

1. ID field is numbered starting with 1 through the total number of TITLEs. The ID is what the program uses to sort the information on screen. It is recommended that numbers are skipped throughout to enable additions to content were it ever needed.

2. TITLE field are the Main titles taken directly from the script.

3. EXHIBIT ID field is the corresponding ID number from the Exhibits spreadsheet.

4. BEACON MAJOR field is numbered sequentially starting with 1.

5. BEACON MINOR field is not accessed in the current app so “1” is to be placed in all lines.

6. UUID field is a 28 alpha numeric code used by the content management system. It does not change. Always set field as “12345678-aaaa-bbbb-cccc-123456789012".

7. ACCURACY THRESHOLD, 3FEET ZONE ACCURACY THRESHOLD, and 10 FEET

ACCURACY THRESHOLD fields are designed to increase the accuracy of the activation zone of the individual iBeacons. Recommended starting points for all iBeacons are 0.6, 0.9, and 2.5 respectively.

8. NOT BEACON ID and NEAR BEACON ID fields are not used and are left blank.

9. OVERVIEW field is the description associated with the TITLE field.

Spreadsheet 3 Details: Fields for this spreadsheet are ROOM ID, TITLE, and

DESCRIPTION

1. ROOM ID field value is the corresponding ID number from the ROOMS spreadsheet.

2. TITLE field is the subheading title from the script.

3. DESCRIPTION field is the description associated with the TITLE field.

When the spreadsheets are populated, create a folder and name it “Indoor Exbibits”. Move the three files to the newly created folder. Zip the folder and final script and name the new file with the park acronym, an underscore, and IEM (ex. PARK_IEM.zip).

Email the .zip file to the COR. The COR will notify the contractor when the upload is complete and ready for installation to the devices. If subsequent submittals are required, add the version number to the .zip after the park acronym.

Once the file has been sent Harpers Ferry Center will create a target app. The target app should be downloaded to your testing device before arriving at the park

– especially important for remote locations!

B-2. ON-SITE

Step 1: Walkthrough

A good way to start the process is to do a walkthrough the site. Things always look a bit different in three-dimensional space versus the floorplans. Some areas may be tighter than expected, or you may have more room.

Step 2: Initial Placement

Next, pace the beacons at the selected locations. Ideally, you will not have to attach the beacons at this point. Be aware however that they must be in their “final” positions. The response will be different between sitting them on the floor and then, for example, attaching them underneath a reader rail as the final position. If the target position is on a wall or other vertical surface, it may be useful to first temporarily attach them with double-sided tape that can be easily removed once their response has been tested.

Step 3: Test, Test and Test Again

With the beacons in their positions you can now move through the site using the target app to check each beacon’s response. The goal is to have a beacon trigger as soon as possible when the visitor moves into range, but not so powerful that it interferes with neighboring beacons.

As you move into a new trigger zone, pause near the beacon location to see how quickly the app lists the current beacon as being the closest. In other words, you want the current beacon to be listed first in the Exhibits by Proximity list. The visitor may have to loiter up to 5 seconds in the trigger zone to get the proper response. Quicker is better, of course. If it takes much longer than 5 seconds to respond, then you may want to adjust the position. If slow response looks like it is a problem with a majority of the beacons, you might consider increasing the power settings one step. In general, if you increase one, you should increase them all.

Having neighboring beacons at different power settings seems to cause more problems than it solves.

The other thing you need to watch for is that once a beacon shows up as being closest, that it remains so. Because of the fluctuating signals from the beacons, the list will re-order itself even when you are not moving. If the closest beacon bounces around in the list order too much, you may need to adjust positions. Sometimes changing a beacon’s orientation will make a difference. As a last resort, shielding may be useful – either with a small piece of aluminum foil or with metal tape.

Do several walkthroughs. You will get somewhat different responses from one pass to another. Once you are happy with the response, then replace any temporary attachments with dual lock, heavy duty Velcro or other mounting material that allows for easy removal for battery replacement. Beacons that are out of reach or well-hidden may not require attachment but may simply be placed into position.

Step 4: Document Beacon Placement

Once the beacons are attached in their final positions, take photographs of their placement. There should be a wide shot of the exhibit with the location indicated and then a closeup of the beacon in place. These photographs should go in the maintenance manual along with a floorplan with the beacon positions marked on it.

Take plenty of wide shots of the area to ensure you have adequately documented beacon placement within the exhibits.

B-3. POST INSTALLATION

The final deliverable on an installation project should be a comprehensive maintenance manual. The manual should include information on the beacons themselves, particularly how to replace the battery. Beacon locations need to be thoroughly documented. Since battery replacement will most likely be an annual task, park personnel will not recall exact beacon locations. Staff turnover will exacerbate that potential problem. If the installation has included audio streaming hardware, that equipment should also be included in the manual.

C. AUDIO STREAMING HARDWARE

The Parks Mobile App incudes the ability to stream synchronized audio description from video or touchscreen interactive sources within the visitor center environment.

The system used is Audio Everywhere from Listen Technologies. Systems are available for one up to 16 audio sources. An eight-source system is shown below. The system works over a Wi-Fi network.

Internet connection is not required. For best performance, a separate router should be set up for exclusive use by the streaming system.

Set the Audio Everywhere (AE) server in a convenient, central and secure location.

The router should be co-located. Setup consists of the following steps.

1. Set up the Wi-Fi router. The Wi-Fi network should have a recognizable name (such [Park’s name] AD Network) and no password required.

Connect the router to the AE server with an ethernet cable. Make sure the audio description includes directions to connect to the Wi-Fi network.

2. Each audio source to be streamed is connected to an input channel on the AE server.

3. Input the channel number for each source into the DET-IEM spreadsheets.

4. Include photographs and hardware information in the maintenance manual.

Notes:

D. Descriptive Exhibit Tour (DET) Internal Exhibit Module (IEM) Equipment Requirements

During initial fielding of the Descriptive Exhibit Tour (DET) Indoor Exhibit Module (IEM) app, Apple and Listen Technologies products are the only compatible delivery devices. This is due to the application's internal programming. Future versions shall expand the use to other device manufacturers.

The contractor shall provide the following in the quantities identified:

1. Portable handheld device with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and vibrate capability (qty. 3)

2. Ruggedized case for media player. OtterBox or equal (qty 3)

3. Hardened screen protector for device (3)

4. Lanyard, 5/8", breakaway, cell phone loop / keyring, dark forest green (qty 3)

5. USB charging station, 6 ports, 6 cables, white. Hercules Tuff or equal (qty 1)

6. Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter (qty 2)

7. Induction neckloop. Williams Sound or equal (qty 1)

8. Headphones. Hamilton Buhl HA2 or equal (qty 5)

9. Refresh Kit, replacement cushion and bag Hamilton Buhl or equal (qty 5)

10. Headphone cushion sanitary cover, black. Hamilton Buhl HygenX or equal (qty 50 pair)

11. Location triggers, iBeacon. Accent Systems iBKS 105 or equal (qty 20)

12. Wi-Fi server. Quantity and number of channels dependent on number of described videos.

13. Wi-Fi router. Quantity and capabilities dependent on size of space.