Everything people ask us.
Straight answers about how Tellcase works, what you need, and what it costs. Don't see yours? Ask on the early access form.
The basics
What is Tellcase?
Tellcase is software for interactive touchscreen exhibits. Museums, historical societies, visitor centers, and trade show exhibitors use it to build touchscreen timelines, story galleries, object explorers, and quizzes, then keep them up to date from any web browser.
Who is Tellcase for?
Museums, historical societies, visitor centers, libraries, corporate lobbies, and trade show exhibitors. It also works for exhibit fabricators and designers who want to include the touchscreen in the exhibits they build.
Do I need a developer or any coding skills?
No. You type stories, add photos or video, and click Publish. If you can use a website builder or fill in a spreadsheet, you can build a Tellcase exhibit.
What kinds of exhibits can I make?
Five templates are ready today. Timeline walks visitors through dates and eras. Story Gallery is a swipeable wall of stories with photos. Object Explorer is one large image with numbered hotspots that open close-up details. Quiz is a multiple-choice trivia game with instant feedback and a final score. Prize Wheel lets visitors spin for giveaways. Both can collect leads.
Can I bring in content I already have?
Yes. You can add stories one at a time, or import a spreadsheet of stories at once. Each story can have a title, date, category, text, photos, and video.
Will it match our branding?
Yes. Upload your logo and set your colors and fonts. Every template uses your brand, so the exhibit looks like it was made for your space.
When is Tellcase available?
Tellcase is launching soon. Join the early access list to be among the first to use it.
Screens and internet
Does a Tellcase kiosk need internet?
No. A connected screen needs internet once to pair, then keeps playing if the network drops. An offline package needs no internet at all and is updated with a USB stick.
What is the difference between a connected screen and an offline package?
A connected screen is on Wi-Fi or a network cable and picks up your changes by itself within a couple of minutes. An offline package is the whole exhibit in one downloaded file that runs with no internet. You update it by copying a new package to the kiosk.
How do I connect a screen?
Add a screen in Tellcase to get a six-digit pairing code. On the kiosk computer, open the pairing page and type the code. The exhibit opens full screen and saves a copy of itself so it keeps running offline.
What hardware do I need?
A Mac mini or a small Windows PC connected to a touchscreen, in landscape or portrait. Ready-made BrightSign setups are coming soon.
Can one exhibit run on several screens?
Yes. Pair as many screens as you need, mix connected and offline screens, and set each one to landscape or portrait.
What happens when visitors walk away?
After a set time with no touches, the screen returns to its welcome screen so the next visitor starts fresh.
Can I put the exhibit on our website too?
Yes. You can make an exhibit viewable by link and embed it on your own website, so people can explore it before or after a visit.
For museums
Can volunteers update the exhibit?
Yes. Give each staff member or volunteer their own login. They can fix a date, swap a photo, or add a story from any browser and preview it before it goes live.
Does it work for grant-funded projects?
Yes. A one-time exhibit license fits a capital budget or a grant line, so the exhibit does not become another monthly bill.
Can stories include video and image credits?
Yes. Each story can hold photos and video, with alt text for every image and a credit line for the source.
Can it run in portrait on a kiosk stand?
Yes. Every template runs in landscape or portrait, so it fits a wall screen or a standing kiosk.
For trade shows
Does it work on convention center Wi-Fi?
It does not depend on it. A connected screen keeps playing through Wi-Fi drops, and quiz leads wait on the kiosk until the connection is back. If the booth has no internet at all, an offline package runs the exhibit from a USB stick.
Can visitors play a quiz or spin a prize wheel?
The quiz is available now. Visitors answer multiple-choice questions, see right or wrong instantly with a short explanation, and get a score at the end. It works offline. The prize wheel is available too: visitors tap Spin to win, and you choose the prizes and how likely each one is.
Can it collect leads at the booth?
Yes. After the quiz or before a prize wheel spin, players can enter by leaving their name and email, plus optional company and phone, with a permission checkbox. Kiosks show an on-screen keyboard. Leads appear in your account and download as a spreadsheet (CSV). If the network drops, entries are saved on the kiosk and sent when it reconnects, so the screen needs to be connected at some point to deliver them.
Can we change content between shows?
Yes. Update products and messaging from a laptop anywhere, then publish or download a fresh package before the next show.
For fabricators and designers
Do I need developers on staff?
No. If your team can use a website builder, they can build a Tellcase exhibit.
How do I manage several clients?
One partner account holds every project. Each client’s content stays separate, and each client only sees their own.
How does partner pricing work?
Partners get partner pricing with room for a margin. We are setting those rates with our first partners now, so tell us about your projects on the early access form.
What hardware should I spec?
A Mac mini or a small Windows PC with a commercial touchscreen, landscape or portrait. BrightSign setups are coming soon.
Pricing and buying
How much does Tellcase cost?
Pricing is being finalized for launch. Museums will be able to choose a one-time exhibit license that fits a capital or grant budget, with an optional yearly plan for hosting and support. Trade show plans run by the show or by the season. Ask on the early access form and we will send pricing.
Is it a subscription or a one-time purchase?
Both options are planned. A one-time license suits museums and grant-funded projects. A yearly or per-show plan suits teams that want hosting, updates, and support included.
Can exhibit fabricators resell Tellcase?
Yes. Partners include Tellcase in their exhibit bids, set it up in the client’s brand, and hand the client a login. Partner pricing leaves room for a margin.
Still have a question?
Ask it on the early access form and we'll get back to you.