<html><body><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000; font-size:10pt;"><div>HI Tina, nice to hear from you. I know you are always thinking about these things. I would like to share a new app that has just been released. <a href="http://piggyback-app.com">http://piggyback-app.com</a> </div><div>Pete Brown a multi-sensory artist who exhibited at NFB Convention last year created this app. He was using QR codes and linking them to youtube videos and that was very successful and might be a way to go at your church. This new app seems to take it to a new and more easily managed level. So you might want to check it out too. </div><div><br></div><div>I would like to see the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators get it for members use since it can be used anywhere. We could all use it for our individual or group exhibits all over the world. That would be very convenient.</div><div><br></div><div>I think it is primarily designed for museums to enable them to make all their exhibits more accessible. It does utilize smart phone technology and I know not everyone has that in their pocket so it would work for more people if the front desk had one or two phones they could lend to visitors too. </div><div><br></div><div>If you get back to Denver be sure and let me know so that I can show you all the tactile pieces that Sally McCance is putting together for the Touch Tours held every other month at the Denver Art Museum. She is doing a great job.</div><div><br></div><div>Ann</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: andale mono,times;">Ann Cunningham</span></div><div><span style="font-family: andale mono,times;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Tactile Art - a creative way to see the world!</span></em></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: andale mono,times;">303 238 4760</span></div><div><span style="font-family: andale mono,times;"><a href="mailto:ann@acunningham.com">ann@acunningham.com</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: andale mono,times;"><a href="http://www.acunningham.com">http://www.acunningham.com</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: andale mono,times;"><a href="http://www.sensationalbooks.com">http://www.sensationalbooks.com</a> </span></div><div><br><br></div>
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Subject: [Artbeyondsightmuseums] Food for Thought: Thoughts on<br>
Interactive Exhibits<br>
From: "Tina Hansen" <<a href="mailto:th404@comcast.net">th404@comcast.net</a>><br>
Date: Wed, April 16, 2014 11:55 pm<br>
To: <<a href="mailto:artbeyondsightmuseums@nfbnet.org">artbeyondsightmuseums@nfbnet.org</a>><br>
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This list has been rather quiet lately, so I thought I'd get a discussion going. I know many churches are setting up walk-through displays for their members to reflect on the Easter story. Ours has set one up, and it prompted me to put out some thoughts about interactive exhibits in museums and other learning institutions, and to maybe get some ideas from you about how to make them inclusive. I want to work with churches and other museums in my area to develop accessibility to their exhibits without detracting from their content.<br>
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At the particular church that I'm familiar with, anyone walking through the exhibit received a guide book with the information about each station. Last night, I went through it with a friend who read off the information. My friend also pointed out what was written on any small pieces of paper o visual "word walls" at certain places in the walk through. I got a lot out of the experience, and since my friend was going through it as well, we both benefited. My friend also served as the reader for another member of my group who was partially blind, so again, it was a win-win for everyone.<br>
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However, I am always thinking of the blind person who does want to go through any exhibit on their own. While I can see either an mp3 player, voice label unit or an iPhone as a possibility for something like the guide book, what do you do for such things as visuals in the environment. Is it possible to offer alternative representations of this kind of information without detracting from everyone's experience. I am also thinking of those who have dyslexia.<br>
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I know that in many museums, the audio tour is usually keyed to stop numbers. If you go with a friend, your friend can read off the numbers, and you're good to go. But what if you are going alone? That is why I like the voice labeler units of maybe the iPhone, but beyond that, I'm not sure how to deal with this problem. I have heard of some systems that audomatically start audio when you get to some location in an exhibit, but that means you need to have your headset on the whole time.<br>
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I suppose that is why so many museums or learning institutions urge a blind visitor to call ahead to set up accommodations. While I can understand that, there are those who feel that is a problem. They want accommodations to be almost guaranteed, whether you plan the trip ahead or just stop in on the spot.<br>
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And what about those instances where the visitor is encouraged to make a contribution? I saw this last night as well. I myself can't use a blackboard. But again, I don't want any accessibility for people with disabilities to detract from that part of the experience. At the same time, how can someone with a disability learn what others who may have gone through the exhibit may have said about their experience at certain components?<br>
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Finally, should the narration be done with voice talent or with text to speech? I know that the text to speech technologies are much improved from the past, but they have a few issues of their own. Their big advantage is that they supposedly cost less than getting a voice talent, but I think visitors would feel more comfortable if the narrative had that human element. What do your all think?<br>
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This is a complex issue. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to design an exhibit that is interactive in an accessible or inclusive manner? Is such a thing possible? Thanks.<br>
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