Which guiding solution should you choose? An overview of the devices offered by Sycomore

Every cultural site has its own specifics — architecture, visitor numbers, type of route, interpretation objectives: that is why Sycomore offers a full range of guiding solutions suited to every context, from the open-air château to the immersive exhibition, by way of national museums.

Audiopen: simplicity, creativity and independence

The Audiopen is an innovative screen-free device, consisting of a smart stylus and a printed medium. Simply point the stylus at an area of the map to automatically trigger the associated audio commentary.

• Lightweight, robust, no complex maintenance
• Usable indoors and outdoors
• Works without a network or technical infrastructure
• Perfect for creative tours, children's quizzes, city walks

Recommended for châteaux, gardens, open-air heritage sites and religious venues. The Commanderie of Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon, for example, offers a visit with the Audiopen combined with an interactive booklet, with no electronic installation or network connection.

M-Guide: premium multimedia immersion

The M-Guide is a premium multimedia device with a 5.5-inch touchscreen: videos, interactive content, dynamic maps and augmented reality, with a long-life battery, reinforced casing and built-in camera.

• Rich content: audio, video, images, augmented reality
• Personalized itineraries and detailed visitor statistics
• Automatic triggering and audiovisual synchronization

Recommended for museums, galleries and temporary exhibitions. The Musée de l'Armée in Paris chose it to offer a complete, immersive visit of its permanent displays, with a multilingual interface suited to an international audience.

S-Guide: the automatic screen-free headset

The S-Guide is a self-contained audio headset, with no interface or buttons, that automatically plays content as visitors approach points of interest, using infrared and/or Bluetooth triggering technology.

• Very easy to use for all audiences
• An immersive experience with no handling required
• Ideal for immersive routes synchronized with video or lighting

The Espadon submarine in Saint-Nazaire uses it to offer a fully immersive experience on board, where visitors explore the vessel's compartments while listening to realistic sounds of life at sea.

A-Guide: the classic audio guide reimagined

The A-Guide is a robust, ergonomic audio device with a keypad and colour screen, offering manual or automatic (infrared) triggering and precise audiovisual synchronization.

• A proven product that reassures all audiences
• Infrared synchronization possible with films or installations
• Works with or without technical infrastructure

The Musée Granet in Aix-en-Provence chose it to equip its permanent spaces and offer simple, accessible, multilingual interpretation, integrated with synchronized audiovisual installations.

POPGuide: the tailor-made mobile app

POPGuide is a cultural visit app that can be downloaded to a smartphone (iOS and Android) or preinstalled on Sycomore guides: a customizable, multilingual interface, interactive maps, automatic Bluetooth triggering and video synchronization.

• Self-contained, works offline once installed
• Navigation by map, list or virtual keypad
• Compatible with augmented reality, BLE and advanced statistics

The Château de Langeais offers it to individual visitors who want to discover the site at their own pace from their smartphone.

Conclusion: a range of tailor-made solutions

Choosing the right guiding solution means, above all, responding to the specifics of your site and your audience. From the traditional audio guide to the mobile app, by way of the self-contained headset and multimedia guides, Sycomore offers flexible, reliable devices suited to every context, informed by years of field experience and continuous user feedback.