Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out an amusement, educational or similar function accompanied by audible sounds relating to an article, comprises a static memory unit adapted to be located at a fixed location with respect to the article and including a read-only memory having digitally stored therein a recording of particular audible sounds relating to the article, and a portable sound-producing unit to be carried by a user for converting a digital recording stored in the read-only memory of the memory unit to audible sounds. The sound-producing unit stored the digital data from the memory unit at a rate faster than the normal speech rate, and plays it back at the normal speech rate. Examples of applications of the apparatus include museum and exhibition displays and geographical directories.