Exhibit Design Relating to Low Vision and Blindness Summary Report

Summary of Findings

Effective Communication

Publications

Federal accessibility laws require effective communication with people with disabilities. Alternative formats of standard print publications are a means of providing that effective communication through large print, Braille, or audio. Multiple formats should be provided so visitors have flexibility in use. A Braille literate visitor may consider a Braille version to be easier and faster for obtaining information, whereas for those who are not Braille readers require other alternate formats to meet their needs.

Large print and Braille publications should be of equivalent quality as standard print publications. Braille should meet the national or international Braille standards. Participants indicated that people who are blind or have low vision tend to use exhibition brochures during their museum or park visit. Additionally visitors with vision loss ought to be able to keep publications offered to them just as visitors without vision loss are able to do. Museums and parks commonly require the return of Braille or audio publications as they deem them too expensive or available in such limited quantity that they do not feel they can be given away.

Providing printed materials in audio format is considered equivalent to offering the publications in Braille. While some visitors may prefer to use their own audio devices If the content is available in a downloadable format, the museum or park needs to have audio devices available on site for those who don’t have an audio player.

Labeling

Text on exhibits, maps, waysides, models, etc. should be simple and clean. Braille should be used sparingly for titles or labels and follow Braille standards. The use of raised letters for titles and labels should use a consistent simple serif font for ease of reading. As exhibits are designed, consistency in placement of labels is important as visitor move from one to another.

Tactile Graphics

The use of tactile graphics requires a connection and context to the interpretive story in order to make sense to the end user. Objects should be easily identifiable and consistent with the theme. The amount of detail that is provided contributes to the success of a tactile object. Some objects can be presented in profile or varying degrees of bas-relief. It is important that relative objects be presented in scale to one another. When scale is violated, it can lead to confusion.

Tactile Maps for Orientation and Way Finding

Tactile maps for orientation and way finding are found in a variety of forms. The simplest form of a tactile map utilizes a raised line diagram of a layout of a building. There are additional ways to engage the tactile sense and usually in a combination with visual and auditory information in order to build a really rich and universal orientation and way finding strategy for an institution. Users benefit from maps that provide navigation within the environment such as portable maps, way finding signs or a combination of the two. In addition, maps for orientation provide a big picture understanding of a whole geographic or environmental space for context.

Portable tactile maps

A variety of techniques have been used to produce portable tactile maps. Regardless of the technique employed, the major drawback of portable tactile maps is they lack a fixed point of reference, or a You Are Here marker. This is a crucial feature for someone trying to create a cognitive model of a complex environment and where they are within the context of the map. When the user is in motion, they have a difficult time knowing where they are at the moment, and which direction they may be facing. However, well-made tactile maps are useful for simple spaces, and drawn with limited tactile features. Some guides suggest the use of “no more than three distinct line types, three different textures and four or five point symbols, such as stairs and building entrances (Rowell and Ungar, 2003). Other rules of thumb include restrictions on crowding, and proper use of Braille labeling (Edman, 1992)” (Landau, 2010, p. 6).

Fixed tactile maps

Fixed tactile maps have the advantage that they can be affixed in the environment where they can be found by the person with vision loss and positioned in the correct orientation. Placement on a horizontal or near horizontal surface provides the map reader with a real world orientation. Maps should be large enough to provide sufficient scale for detail, but not so large that the map reader has to change their position or reorient themselves.

Talking three-dimensional models for way-finding and orientation

Touchable models provide more spatially accurate information than the simple raised line map. A three dimensional representation of the physical environment is more easily spatially understood than a raised-line map of that space. Scale models provide information about building volumes and details that can provide valuable information about orientation in a space. However, without additional audio descriptive information to actually assist the blind user in navigating from the model to destinations within the space, models are not useful for way finding.

Talking map models with descriptive information are useful for orientation and navigation. Touch activated on-demand descriptions of model elements provide a better understanding of what the map reader is looking at. Some models provide information in a series of audio layers that are accessed by continuing finger contact with a single part of the model.

Scale and size

Large scale maps are desirable, but how big is too big? Generally maps and models should fall within “the wingspan” (within arm’s reach or a suggested 50” x 30”) to be explored from one spot. If a map or model needs to be larger, then smaller inset maps or a smaller scale model for orientation should be provided.

Tactile Models with Audio Description

The use of tactile models in tactile exhibits serves all people. “Generally, tactile exhibits are used to represent objects that are “out of touch” because they are too big, too small, too delicate, too dangerous, too precious, too far away, or, as with aquariums, from an alien environment” (Fuller & Watkins, 2010, p. 6). Tactile exhibits may have original artifacts, but are often replicas of objects that are fabricated. Visitors with visual impairments desire the opportunities for tactile exploration of objects that are meaningful to the interpretive experience. The addition of audio description of the features of the object or exhibit assists the visitor in their conceptual interpretation and provides a more meaningful experience.

Tactile models or objects should provide sufficient detail to be meaningful. The results reported from the “Tactile Talking Fish Project” showed that participants were able to correctly answer fact based questions about the types of fish, etc. when presented with full round models than with bas-relief and with greater accuracy than raised line models. The full round model also allowed participants to form a better “mental image” of the fish than the bas-relief or raised line models.

Audio Elements

Tactile exhibit elements should have carefully scripted audio information, description, or interpretation that is explicitly connected to the tactile experience of the tactile element. When possible, the audio information should be accessible on a hands free basis allowing tactile exploration with both hands. Users seem to prefer devices that they can carry with them as opposed to audio embedded in the exhibit. Pure sound quality, ambient noise, and overlapping or competing audio from exhibits in close proximity detract from the benefit of the audio description.

Audio elements built into exhibits may be touch activated. If users are not aware that touch activated audio is part of an exhibit, they may be startled when they begin exploring a piece. Users expressed desire to either have the ability to control when the audio would play, allowing initial exploration. Users also would like to have the ability to control the speed and volume of the audio.

Waysides may have audio content delivered via an audio post with a speaker. A preferred alternative would be to add an earphone jack (or two) to the wayside much like systems used to use of ATMs at banks where a headset could be plugged into receive the audio. Care should be taken that visitors don’t get entangled when there are many people moving around a wayside. Use of an infrared signal to trigger wireless headphones could also an alternative.

In general, when utilizing headphones to receive audio description/content, users preferred to have their headsets cover only one ear so they could hear the environment around them.

Visitors with visual impairments, like all visitors, want layered information so they can move on if the site is not interesting or “drill” for more information if desired. Audio programs and other media alternatives should allow for the same kind of a quick concise message (typical of most wayside exhibits) to peak the visitors’ interest and not try to tell the whole story.

Current Technology

While hands on exploration is important, technology provides expanded opportunities to interface with exhibits through magnification or description. A variety of software and hardware options are available to deliver descriptive information.

Voice quality

Descriptions delivered through audio files can be recorded human voices or synthetic speech. Text files provide descriptions that can be read by text-to-speech or screen reader software. While synthetic voices are evolving with more natural voice quality, many consumers the general consensus among the consumers was that recorded human voices are preferred. Providing text files of audio descriptions should be offered used in exhibits that can be downloaded are necessary for users who need refreshable Braille.

Hardware and software

Audio delivery can be provided through a variety of hardware options, software formats, and methods of distribution. Off the shelf mp3 style players such as iPods, iPhones, etc. can be provided by the institution or be visitor-owned. Some audio delivery is through proprietary devices. Such devices should be intuitive to use and have ease of navigation.

Audio files can be formatted as .wav, mp3, .mov, or other files. Distribution of audio content can be pre-installed on devices provided by an institution with triggering through wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi, infra-red, Bluetooth or cell phone. While some visitors may prefer to use personal cell phones to receive descriptive information, many expressed opposition to using personal minutes, and more importantly draining the battery or tying up the phone that may be needed for business or emergency use. Delivery of audio files may be triggered by GPS technology, which should be carefully evaluated for quality and consistency of reception. Audio files can be provided to users in pre- or post- visit from accessible web sites for listening at on their personal computers or for downloading to their personal audio device or PDA.

Design parameter considerations

Research conducted by the National Center for Accessible Media for the Whitney Museum put forward the following design parameters for shopping for appropriate technologies:

• Allowance for synchronization of caption text and audio description with museum's exhibits and media
• Accessible user interface to blind and visually impaired people via "talking menus," "audible keyboard echoing" of user input and tactile controls
• Device and content management system which enables fast-turnaround content creation and adaptation, authored by museum staff or variety of vendor(s) to enable access at first public opening of exhibits regardless of deadlines
• IR emitter (or other wireless signals) with ability to adjust for narrow-zone coverage and accommodate multiple exhibits within small gallery space
• If using public bandwidth (cell, Wi-Fi, GPS), signals must be able to reach all areas of the museum
• If relying on user-owned equipment, consider battery usage, personal data plan usage, national and international cell network compatibility
• Ruggedized - able to withstand moderate abuse from adult visitors (e.g., dropping the device from a height of four feet)
• Easy to use for visitors - young or old, technophilic or technophobic
• Easy to use for museum staff (for automated or near-automated content loading and reprogramming)
• Programming of device employs contemporary programming techniques (drag-and-drop, pick lists, etc.)
• Uses non-proprietary, industry standard content formats (e.g., .mp3, .txt, .wav, .mov, etc.)
• Protects user privacy, accords with museum IT security needs
• Open architecture - device's on-board software and device management software written in commonly used computer languages to allow for third-party alterations should the vendor no longer be able to support the product
• Extensible - can be "built-out" or evolve over years to add new features and take advantage of new technologies
• Fully customizable look and feel, menus, branding, etc.
• Upgradeable for adding new software, new processors, new memory capacity
• Potential for incorporating (or demonstrating) industry-wide standards for museum access devices
• Interoperable with off-the-shelf technology so alternate hardware could be used
• Able to download content from the web on-site or in advance. (Goldberg, 2010, p. 8).