Modernization of the visitor routes at the Army Museum: discover the innovative visitor tools

The Army Museum, located within the Hôtel National des Invalides in Paris, is a renowned historical site that presents the history of France’s military conflicts. An integral part of this cultural complex, which also includes the Musée des Plans-Relief, the Historial Charles de Gaulle and the Cathédrale Saint-Louis, the Army Museum welcomes more than 1.3 million visitors per year, including one million for the visit to the tomb of Napoleon I. In order to modernize its tour routes and meet the diverse expectations of its visitors, the museum has adopted innovative tour tools provided by Sycomore : the M-Guide and the Audiopen . This article explores these tools and their impact on the visitor experience.

Presentation of the visiting tools at the Army Museum

M-Guide: the interactive multimedia guide

M-Guide is a modern multimedia device that enriches the visit to the Army Museum with interactive and visual content. Equipped with a 5.5-inch high-resolution screen, the M-Guide displays videos, images, and offers augmented reality features for an immersive experience. Thanks to beacon geolocation, visitors can locate themselves on an interactive map and explore the various spaces of the museum without difficulty. This multimedia guide automatically triggers comments based on the visitors’ position, thus offering a fluid and intuitive visit.

The M-Guide was integrated into the museum to enhance the different tour routes. It allows visitors to discover varied exhibitions while facilitating access to rich and detailed information. Whether to understand historical military strategies or admire the points of interest on display, the M-Guide accompanies visitors throughout their exploration.

Audiopen: the fun and economical audio guide

To provide an accessible and interactive alternative, the museum also uses the Audiopen . This fun audio guide works like an optical reading pen , allowing visitors to trigger audio commentaries by pointing to specific areas of the printed tour maps. The Audiopen is particularly suitable for a short and targeted visit, particularly focusing on the Dôme des Invalides and the tomb of Napoleon I.

The Audiopen is available in eight languages, making the experience accessible to international visitors and offering a less expensive solution for those who want a more concise tour. This feature is perfect for first-time visitors who come primarily for Napoleon’s tomb, but who also want to gain additional information in an interactive and engaging way.

Implementation of digital solutions

The modernization of the visitor routes at the Army Museum involved several key steps, carried out in close collaboration with Sycomore. Here are the essential aspects of the implementation of these visit tools:

Installation and supply of M-Guides

Sycomore provided the museum with 192 M-Guides , along with their peripherals. These devices were installed to provide a complete and interactive tour of the museum. The beacons were installed to ensure the indoor localization of visitors, allowing the automatic triggering of audio commentaries based on their position in the museum. This installation guarantees an immersive experience where information is provided intuitively and in real time.

Application Development and Content Management

The development of the POPGuide Museum app has been integrated with the M-Guides to provide a complete visitor solution. An associated Content Management System (CMS) allows for regular updates of the information provided to visitors, ensuring that the content remains relevant and enriching. This approach ensures that visitor journeys evolve based on new exhibitions and visitor feedback.

Deployment of Audiopens

To meet the needs of visitors interested in a shorter visit, 150 Audiopens were provided. In collaboration with the Army Museum, visit plans adapted to the Audiopen were developed. These plans are currently being finalized and aim to offer a fun and interactive experience, both for museum visitors and tourism professionals. The Audiopens make it possible to diversify the visit offer and reach a wider audience.

Conclusion

The integration of the M-Guide and Audiopen tour tools at the Musée de l’Armée illustrates how technology can transform the visitor experience by offering modern, interactive and enriching tour paths. These devices meet the diverse needs of visitors, whether they are first-time international visitors or national visitors looking to deepen their knowledge. By choosing innovative solutions provided by Sycomore, the Musée de l’Armée has not only modernized its tour paths, but also improved the accessibility and interactivity of its exhibitions. To see these tour tools in action, visit the Musée de l’Armée .

FAQ on the Army Museum Visit Tools

1. What is the M-Guide and how does it improve the museum visit? The M-Guide is an interactive multimedia guide equipped with a high-resolution screen that offers enriched content such as videos, images and augmented reality, facilitating navigation thanks to beacon geolocation.

2. How does the Audiopen work and who is it suitable for? The Audiopen is an optical reading pen that triggers audio commentary by pointing at printed tour maps. It is ideal for visitors wanting a short and economical tour, available in eight languages.

3. What are the benefits of installing beacons? Beacons enable indoor visitor localization and automatic triggering of audio commentary, ensuring a smooth and immersive visitor experience.

4. How does the POPGuide Museum app enrich the visitor experience? The POPGuide Museum app offers interactive tours with audio and visual content, automatically synchronized via BLE, providing a flexible digital alternative for visitors using their smartphones.

5. How do these tour tools meet the expectations of different types of visitors? These tools offer an interactive experience for visitors who want complete immersion, while offering fun and accessible solutions for those who prefer a more concise tour.

To learn more about the Army Museum’s visitor tools, visit the official website .