[TAGS] exploring the 3-D photographs exhibit at the Newseum

Mon Mar 12 17:12:38 UTC 2018

Thanks for that info, Dan.

-----Original Message-----
From: TAGS [mailto:tags-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Burke via
TAGS
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2018 11:14 AM
To: Tactile Art and Tactile Graphics Specialist list <tags at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Dan Burke <dburke at cocenter.org>
Subject: Re: [TAGS] exploring the 3-D photographs exhibit at the Newseum

I want to echo Cheryl's recommendation to take in the Marines and Tet
exhibit at the Newseum in DC.  My wife and I missed the reception during
Washington Seminar because our last appointment put us on a deserted,
blocked off, Independence Avenue. No cabs or Lyfts were obtainable.
Instead, we went the next afternoon and we were the only ones in the
exhibit.  We had all the time in the world to explore the tactile versions
of John Olson's photos, but also had the same issue with the touch
sensors. We had to learn to take turns, after playing the recorded
descriptions, etc.

As to the chronological order, we turned right instead of left when we
entered the exhibit, so it took a bit to realize that they were in order.
I suppose we should have used the Braille  guide for that specific
exhibit, but we were too eager to get at it.

I can't imagine that the audio features of the exhibit were anything but
gibberish in the crowded reception the evening before. Really, only one
pair of hands can explore at a time as each sensor interrupts  the audio
that might be playing, whether the descriptions or interviews or the other
sensors on a given photo.

But more than all that, this is a powerful set of photos and its
accessibility made it a powerful, emotional experience for me.  Both the
images and the voices of the Marines are with me even now some six weeks
later.

Best,
Dan

-----Original Message-----
From: TAGS <tags-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Cheryl Fogle-Hatch via
TAGS
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2018 1:15 AM
To: Tactile Art and Tactile Graphics Specialist list <tags at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Cheryl Fogle-Hatch <c.k.fogle at gmail.com>
Subject: [TAGS] exploring the 3-D photographs exhibit at the Newseum

Hello everyone,

If you are in the D.C. area between now and the beginning of July, I
highly recommend viewing this exhibit.  Some of you may have already
checked it out during Washington Seminar in January.  I took a small group
there this weekend and I am sharing my thoughts.

Exploring the 3-D photographs of the Marines at Tet, an exhibit at the
Newseum

We enjoyed the freedom of coming to an inclusive, and accessible, museum
exhibit on our own schedule.
The 3-D photos are placed horizontally on panels about 3 feet off of the
ground and they have slightly smaller width and length dimensions.
Each panel has buttons in front with print and braille labels included for
the photo title.  In a standardized layout, the leftmost button when
pressed played a description of the photo (who, what, where) to the right
buttons gave access to audio clips of interviews with the marines who were
identified in the photos.

The photos contained embedded sensors (small dots about the size of the
fingertip.  These sensors labeled part of the image (e.g. gun, or, marine
name) when the sensor was on a person. Touching the sensor played the clip
of the interview.  The clip would play or could be stopped when another
sensor was access or another button was pushed.
Moving around the same sensor triggered it to repeat sometimes causing a
stuttering sound through the speaker.  The single speaker was triggered
when two people touched the photo in different places.  The most recent
sensor-tuch event always interrupted the previous audio clip that was
being played.

Since two people were exploring the panels together, we developed the
following strategy to minimize cutting between labelled audio clips:
1. press the button for the description
2. press each of the remaining buttons from left to right in order to play
all audio clips associated with the photo.
3. Then we took turns exploring the photo and triggered each of the
sensors as they were encountered.

perspective
foreground and background description was helpful to understand the
photos.
Objects in the foreground appeared larger than those in the background.
Since the photos were chronological, it was easier to identify repeated
elements such as the ruined building where the marines were located even
as its perspective changed from background to foreground.

tactile differentiation
irregular shapes in the photos were easiest to identify by touch
(example: amunition worn on the belt was more distinct than the m16 rifle,
but once labelled, the shape of the gun was identifiable). The shapes of
hands and heads were also readily identifiable.  square shapes such as the
canteens and backpacks were harder to identify.
textured rough for ground was helpful.

We also noticed that sighted visitors were playing the audio interview
clips, and some triggered the sensors in the 3-D photos.

--
Cheryl Fogle-Hatch, Ph.D.
Archaeologist and Museum Professional
(443) 939-8217
c.k.fogle at gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/cheryl-fogle-hatch/8/224/538
https://cherylfogle.academia.edu/

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