Walk or sit down while listening

Through dialogue with users, we have learned that most prefer to sit down or walk while listening. You can learn more about this in this article.

NB: This article is relevant for the Quest and Route types, as we know where the user is going. If you are working with Collections, the form is more free. Learn more about the different types.

Sit Down

If the user doesn't have to walk, they often like to sit down. Therefore, it's a good idea to point out nearby benches and encourage them to sit. Sitting down can also make the user see something from a different angle, which can contribute to your story. Look at this example from "From Mead to Specialty Beer":

If there is room, feel free to find a bench to sit on while I continue telling you about the square in front of you.

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Walking While Listening

We know from user testing that they like to walk while listening. It enhances the users' concentration span and also enables the user to adjust to colder temperatures. When the user should walk while listening, we can either ask them to do it from the start or partway through the story. Look at this example from "The Road to Dreams about H.C. Andersen":

When you're ready to continue, keep to the left both times the road splits, until you stand by the small bridge with a view of Frederiksberg Castle. I'll continue telling the story as you walk.

In the above example, it is easy to find the way, and therefore it makes sense. If the route is too convoluted, you might consider dividing your story into several shorter ones.

Walking while listening requires good timing and clear instructions. In practice, this requires you to thoroughly test your tour so that users don't get lost. Learn more about testing in this article.