University Park, Pa. -- Since it was launched June 1, iHear Penn State, the new self-guided cell-phone tour of the University Park campus, has shown strong popularity among visitors. Nearly 3,000 calls have been placed in the three months since the program began, an average of 32 calls each day.
Calls peak during periods when the campus typically hosts high numbers of out-of-area visitors, according to Michael Bezilla of the Office of University Relations, which spearheaded development of the iHear program. For example, the day with the greatest number of calls – 119 – was Saturday, July 11, during the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
The iHear tour features a series of 12 campus buildings and landmarks that can be visited in any order and on any time schedule. Small blue signs at each location direct viewers to dial (814) 308-5020 to listen to a 50-second recording describing each site. The tour is available in English or Spanish.
Of 2,977 total calls received between June 1 and Aug. 31, the Nittany Lion Shrine received the largest number of calls – 674 – with Old Main a close second, Bezilla noted. He also said that "while the iHear system does not report individual callers' phone numbers, it does identify area codes, and about 150 are represented, confirming that even during the summer months the campus hosts a broad geographic spectrum of visitors."
Callers also have the opportunity to leave comments about their experience with iHear Penn State. Some typical responses:
“I love Penn State and I love this tour.”
“It took me back in some ways and brought me up to date in others.”
“Excellent – thank you for doing this.”
Bezilla said that there may be opportunities to build out additional tours on different subjects or themes.
Among expansions already in the works is a plan to build out a Palmer Museum of Art tour. The museum is a stop on the existing tour, but interested visitors will be able to take a “side trip” to find out more, according to Joyce Robinson, curator of the museum.
“For example, outside of the building you would be able to learn about the sculpture garden and the Lion's Paws that grace the entrance,” said Robinson, “and then you would enter the museum to continue the tour with gallery overviews and exhibitions. Ideally, we'd also like to try to have changing tours of our temporary exhibitions. We hope to have it ready by spring 2010.”
“Cell phones are a pretty common technology that most people have access to,” said Robinson. “It's just another way to impart information and present learning in a manner that is accessible to almost everyone.”
An iHear Penn State task force, consisting of representatives from the Office of University Relations and a number of other University units, will oversee any expansion of the program.
Visitors can pick up printed cards listing the 12 locations of the inaugural tour in brochure racks at the Hintz Family Alumni Center, Nittany Lion Inn, HUB, Pattee and Paterno Libraries, Penn State Visitors Center, and Penn Stater Hotel Conference Center. A pdf version of the printed card also can be downloaded from the Website at http://ihear.psu.edu.
More information about iHear Penn State can be found at http://live.psu.edu/story/40046. Inquiries about the program can be sent to iHearPennState@psu.edu.