Enhancing Visitor Experiences For Those With Visual Impairments

During our class visit to WCMA this past Tuesday, it became clear that museums are ever changing vaults of history. As I roamed from exhibit to exhibit, it seemed as though I was entering a different time period each time. From the walls to the ceilings, each piece contributed to this sensation, but for a majority of the time, these sensations depended on my sense of sight. However, a particular exhibit at WCMA, the first one located to your right, Anicka Yi’s Our Love Is Bigger Than an Aids Quilt, set a particulary mood for the exhibtion involving the senses of sound and smell which “immerses visitors in a sensorial experience.” (1)

pic2 (2)

Yet, museums are visually oriented. Sight is the one sense we depend on the most. If that is the case, if I were to take my grandparents (both with visual impairments now) to WCMA or any other museum, how will they enjoy and interact with art? There’s a certain group of people we didn’t really discuss in class, the visually impaired. Currently, certain museums such as The Met offer workshops, audio descriptions, and tours specifically for those with visual impairments. (3)

Some even allow visitors to touch art pieces.

pic1 (4)

Exploring senses is an innovative solution WCMA has adopted through certain exhibts. However, how can this become universal; how can we enhance experiences for the visually impaired? It’s hard to envision a device or an exact solution, but making a device that can be worn around your wrist or even a ring that sends data to a mobile application downloaded by the one accompanying you is a start. The data collected can be change in heart rate or even moods (this would of course involve tracking brain activity… similar to mood rings). This data can help personalize a list of exhibits one must see which makes it easier for your companion to guide you. This data along with a headset can also be used to play specific sounds/tunes when you’re at an exhibit or standing in front of a piece. This can help indicate that you are at a new exhibit and also allow those with visual impairments to explore art through sound. As of now, smell and touch are a bit trickier to think of.

(1) https://wcma.williams.edu/anicka-yi-our-love-is-bigger-than-an-aids-quilt/

(2) http://news.mit.edu/2015/anicka-yi-olfactory-art-0728

(3) https://www.metmuseum.org/events/programs/access/visitors-who-are-blind-or-partially-sighted

(4) https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/01/05/505419694/blind-art-lovers-make-the-most-of-museum-visits-with-insight-tours