Mad Systems Inc., the award-winning audiovisual and interactive system designer and integrator, has announced the launch of a new patented technology, Alice™ OnBoard, the next evolution of its patented Alice visitor personalisation platform
Alice OnBoard brings all of Alice’s groundbreaking AI-driven capabilities to visitors’ own smartphones.
In its full incarnation, the Alice system relies on onsite sensors and AV hardware – RFID or NFC badges, cameras for facial recognition, and a QuickSilver® system to identify guests and personalise media
In practical terms, museums can deploy Alice OnBoard rapidly without installing new devices at exhibit level, instantly delivering the same rich, personalised multimedia experience Alice is known for. Alice can also be deployed throughout the museum using all the fixed screens, and Alice OnBoard will work together with any Alice-equipped venue to create the most flexible solution available.
Introducing Alice OnBoard
Alice OnBoard is essentially the patented Alice personalisation engine repackaged as a mobile solution, without loading an app.
Visitors connect to the venue’s WiFi and launch Alice OnBoard on their phones by scanning an RFID tag or a QR code, and register onto the system, indicating their preferred language, age/reading level, interest level (Streaker/Stroller/Student), and other parameters. From that moment, Alice OnBoard recognises each user (through the phone’s browser or login) and serves up content tailored to their profile, without any badges, beacons, or cameras.
The interface is simple and intuitive, requiring nothing more from the guest than basic smartphone use. Behind the scenes, Mad Systems’ advanced AI is at work: the system draws on its curated “Body of Knowledge” to select the perfect content for each visitor.
In other words, every element of the Alice experience, from STEM-based educational segments to literary quotes or even light-hearted pop-culture references, is available in the visitor’s hand. Industry experts note that mobile platforms have become a primary focus for cultural institutions; as one digital engagement leader observes, mobile platforms are “scalable…that cater to the digital engagement needs of museums”
Zero hardware, more possibilities
- Personalised visitor journeys: Alice OnBoard delivers unique, tailored tours. The system identifies each guest (via their profile) and customises content to their interests, age group and background. “Every visitor receives a unique and customised experience” with Alice
, so each person’s path through the museum can be different. - Multilingual access: Alice OnBoard automatically provides content in the user’s preferred language. Alice supports dozens of languages (up to 200+)
, so multilingual sites can instantly serve visitors in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, or any other language as needed. - Inclusive accessibility: Alice OnBoard includes full accessibility features. It can display captions or text transcripts, provide audio descriptions, and use braille readers. Alice OnBoard brings accessibility capabilities to every exhibit through the visitor’s phone.
- AI-driven smart content: The heart of Alice is its artificial intelligence. Once a visitor is identified, Alice’s AI engine automatically selects the right media for that visitor, using the museum’s curated knowledge base. It “use[s] advanced AI technology to deliver media customised to suit [visitors’] interests and present it in the language and style of their choice.”. In practice, that means kids, teens and adults see content pitched at the right level and on topics they like.
- Real-time adaptation: The experience continually adjusts as the visit unfolds. Content and tour suggestions update on the fly based on what the visitor has seen so far, offering truly dynamic personalisation. Alice was designed for “delivering dynamic and personalised content experiences”, and Alice OnBoard delivers that same live adaptability via the phone.
- Museum-controlled content: All media and options remain 100% under the institution’s control. Staff upload and manage the content libraries/Bodies Of Knowledge – Alice OnBoard delivers it. Visitors cannot alter or add to the exhibit content, ensuring consistency. Alice OnBoard behaves as a digital podium for the museum’s narratives, not as an open social platform.
- Encouraging repeat visits: As with the full Alice system, Alice OnBoard can either deliver curated content, or content based on a curated Body Of Knowledge, which means that every time visitors return, the information provided will meet their profile, but be different for every visit.
The power of Alice in visitors’ pockets
Alice OnBoard isn’t a slimmed-down demo; it’s the full Alice engine, just delivered differently. It runs on the same patented platform
That same flexibility now appears on the smartphone screen. Museums still define the narrative: all videos, images and scripts are pre-loaded by curators, and Alice OnBoard serves up the right ones. In effect, Alice OnBoard hands each guest a personal guide that thinks on the fly, while the institution retains editorial control. All the creativity and AI that made Alice powerful are preserved – there is no trade-off.
Immediate applications across museums and attractions
Alice OnBoard can be added to virtually any attraction with WiFi, with minimal setup.
Historical galleries can use it to tailor narrative tours to each visitor’s background; science centers can match experiment explanations to the audience’s age or knowledge level; art museums can let guests choose theme-based deep dives (Impressionism, Renaissance, Modern etc.); botanical gardens can provide species-specific info or seasonal walk-alongs on each visitor’s phone; zoos can provide detailed information about the animals that visitors see.
In short, wherever there is a visitor with a smartphone, Alice OnBoard can enhance the experience. Alice™ OnBoard is also ideal for multi-site experiences: for example, San Diego’s Balboa Park is developing a unified mobile app “that will serve as a truly holistic guide to the entire park, complete with tours, trails, AR…”
That kind of cross-venue guidance – spanning science museums, art museums, and more – is precisely what Alice OnBoard is built for, but Alice OnBoard’s unique patented nature provides multi-lingual, highly personalised content. From heritage sites to high-tech centres, any institution can benefit from instant personalisation with no renovation or hardware changes.
A new era for personalised engagement
The launch of Alice OnBoard marks a game-changing moment in museum technology. It gives institutions a fast, affordable way to deliver next-generation tours and exhibits. Because deployment is as simple as broadcasting a WiFi signal, museums can focus on content, not infrastructure.
As one industry insider observes, embracing Alice means “embracing the visitor engagement of the future”. Alice OnBoard offers that future today: highly personalised, inclusive experiences accessible through every guest’s phone.
“We invite museums, galleries and attractions worldwide to discover how Alice OnBoard can transform their visitor engagement,” says Mad Systems. “With no or minimal hardware to install and full control over every story, this is the future-proof solution every institution needs.”
Yesterday, Mad Systems announced its forward-thinking QuickSilver Retrofit approach, built on the QuickSilver platform, created to help institutions breathe new life into their galleries and exhibits.
