This article will guide you through the benefits and functionalities of Audio Access+, enabling you to understand how it will improve your visitor's experiences.
What is Audio Access+?
Audio Access+ provides your visitors with a choice in how they listen to audio within your Empower PWA. When they encounter audio in a Space or Object, they can select how they would like to engage with that audio from three convenient methods:
Headphones: The standard option for an immersive personal audio experience.
Phone-to-ear: A unique, headphone-free mode allowing private listening simply by holding their phone to their ear.
Transcript-only: When available, visitors can choose to read a text transcript of the audio content.
By offering these options, you can cater to a wider range of visitor preferences and needs, ensuring a more inclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Important Note Regarding Phone-to-Ear Compatibility:
The new phone-to-ear audio option is currently supported on iOS (version 16 and newer) and Android (version 14 and newer). We are actively expanding Android support to include versions 11, 12, and 13 soon. Visitors on other OS versions can continue to use headphones or transcripts.
How Audio Access+ Benefits Your Visitors:
Increased Accessibility: Visitors without headphones or those who prefer not to use them can still access valuable audio commentary via the phone-to-ear option or transcripts.
Enhanced Comfort and Convenience: The phone-to-ear mode offers a discreet way to listen without the need to carry or manage headphones.
This also ensures audio is directed privately to the listener, preventing disruption to others nearby.
Personalized Experience: Visitors can choose the listening method that best suits their individual preferences and circumstances.
Improved Engagement: By offering more ways to access audio, you can ensure more visitors engage with your rich audio content.
Support for Diverse Needs: The transcript option provides crucial accessibility for visitors who are hearing impaired or prefer to read.
Understanding the Visitor Journey with Audio Access+
As your visitors navigate your Empower PWA, here's how they will interact with Audio Access+:
First Encounter with Audio:
When a visitor accesses a space or object containing audio for the first time, they will be presented with a clear prompt asking "How would you like to listen?". The available options will be:
Headphones
Phone to ear
Transcript (if you have provided one)
They will need to make a selection to begin playback. While they can dismiss the initial prompt, the audio will not start until a choice is made. This ensures they actively choose their preferred method.
Initial Prompt
Utilizing "Phone to ear" Playback:
If a visitor selects "Phone to ear," the main play button will visually update to indicate this preference.
The play button will show "Phone to ear" to reflect the visitor's choice.
When they press play, a small window (mini app) will appear, instructing them to raise their phone to their ear to start the audio.
(Note: The visual appearance of this step may vary slightly on different devices.)
Playback will begin automatically when the phone is held correctly and pause when it's moved away.
The phone sensor will recognizes when the phone is positioned correctly.
Managing Audio Preferences:
Visitors can easily change their preferred audio playback method or language at any time through the Settings menu, located within the My Visit section of the app. This allows them to adapt their listening experience as needed throughout their visit.
My Visit Settings
Accessing Transcripts:
If you have uploaded a transcript for the audio and the visitor selects "Transcript," the text will be displayed for them to read. If a visitor selects "Transcript" but no transcript is available, they will receive a message prompting them to adjust their settings to listen to the audio. This encourages them to explore other available options.
Transcript Unavailable
Audio Playback Controls:
During playback (via headphones or phone-to-ear), a mini app will provide basic controls. Upon completion or pausing, visitors will typically see options to "Return to browser" (to go back to the content page) or "Play again."
Audio completed screen
Key Takeaway for You:
By implementing audio within your Pladia Empower PWA, and with the added flexibility of Audio Access+, you are providing a more inclusive, convenient, and personalized experience for your visitors. Remember to consider providing transcripts where possible to further enhance accessibility.
We encourage you to explore the possibilities of Audio Access+ and how it can enrich your visitors' engagement with your content.
If you have any questions or need assistance in utilizing this feature, please do not hesitate to contact your Pladia Customer Success team.