Supporting an international community of around 1,600 scientists, ISIS is the world's most powerful neutron and muon source, used to study atomic structure for research in physics, chemistry, materials science, geology, engineering and biology. The materials research at ISIS takes place around the target station, a building of stadium proportions. Here, protons are accelerated to 84% of the speed of light and fired into targets, and the effects analyzed to reveal the material's atomic structure.
Government-funded and working with 500 universities and higher education institutes worldwide, as well as 160 government research councils, institutes and agencies in six continents, ISIS is a facility where sharing information is a prime function. This means regular visits of groups from schools, universities and scientific institutes. With the tours being given by leading scientists, good communication is critical to the value of the tours for the establishment and its visitors. Whilst the noise levels in the facility are not high by industrial standards, ambient levels are fairly constant and impossible for groups of more than a few tightly crowded around the guide. With up to three tours in a day this was also proving quite physically stressful for the scientists giving the tour.
Dr Martyn Bull explained: "Our Communications Group selected Apple Sound who provided a large selection of equipment options for us to test. The choice of Apple was good in that they had a clear understanding of the application, equipment and solutions. We did real-life tours for the tests and conclusively agreed on the head-worn mics for the speaker and earclip headsets for the visitors, giving both guide and listener comfort and flexibility." He continued: "The results on the tours has been revolutionary. The scientists can now focus on the tour content with hands free for demonstrating and for them the whole event is more relaxing. Visitors can be accommodated in larger groups as they are now freed up to spread out and look around whilst always hearing every word. Different tours can take place within the same area using separate channels or a tour can pass from one guide to another using the same channel."
The tests also allayed initial concerns over any possible radio interference in this highly electrical environment, with zero effect on any of the facilities equipment or the transmission and reception of the Tourguide system. The distance covered also extended comfortably the length of the building, provided there was a reasonably clear line of sight. This range is particularly useful outside when visitors are shown the building site that is the massive new second target station, being built alongside the present one.
The Sennheiser system supplied by Apple Sound to ISIS consists of 50 EK-1035 beltpack receivers, 25 L-1035 twin chargers, seven NT-1035-UK power supplies, four EK-100 G2 beltpack transmitters, one SKM 135 G2 handheld transmitter and four ME3 headworn microphones.
(Lee Baldock)
