Empowering Independence for Visually Impaired Museum Visitors Through Enhanced Accessibility
Museums serve as essential cultural centers, yet their mostly visual exhibits restrict access for blind and partially sighted (BPS) individuals. While recent technological advances have started to bridge this gap, many accessibility solutions focus mainly on basic inclusion rather than promoting ind...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4811 |
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| author | Theresa Zaher Nasser Tsvi Kuflik Alexandra Danial-Saad |
| author_facet | Theresa Zaher Nasser Tsvi Kuflik Alexandra Danial-Saad |
| author_sort | Theresa Zaher Nasser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Museums serve as essential cultural centers, yet their mostly visual exhibits restrict access for blind and partially sighted (BPS) individuals. While recent technological advances have started to bridge this gap, many accessibility solutions focus mainly on basic inclusion rather than promoting independent exploration. This research addresses this limitation by creating features that enable visitors’ independence through customizable interaction patterns and self-paced exploration. It improved upon existing interactive tangible user interfaces (ITUIs) by enhancing their audio content and adding more flexible user control options. A mixed-methods approach evaluated the ITUI’s usability, ability to be used independently, and user satisfaction. Quantitative data were gathered using ITUI-specific satisfaction, usability, comparison, and general preference scales, while insights were obtained through notes taken during a think-aloud protocol as participants interacted with the ITUIs, direct observation, and analysis of video recordings of the experiment. The results showed a strong preference for a Pushbutton-based ITUI, which scored highest in usability (M = 87.5), perceived independence (72%), and user control (76%). Participants stressed the importance of tactile interaction, clear feedback, and customizable audio features like volume and playback speed. These findings underscore the vital role of user control and precise feedback in designing accessible museum experiences. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c2ae7a3dfde742dba7fc4d55e3a318f1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-c2ae7a3dfde742dba7fc4d55e3a318f12025-08-20T04:00:51ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-08-012515481110.3390/s25154811Empowering Independence for Visually Impaired Museum Visitors Through Enhanced AccessibilityTheresa Zaher Nasser0Tsvi Kuflik1Alexandra Danial-Saad2Department of Information Systems, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelDepartment of Information Systems, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelDepartment of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelMuseums serve as essential cultural centers, yet their mostly visual exhibits restrict access for blind and partially sighted (BPS) individuals. While recent technological advances have started to bridge this gap, many accessibility solutions focus mainly on basic inclusion rather than promoting independent exploration. This research addresses this limitation by creating features that enable visitors’ independence through customizable interaction patterns and self-paced exploration. It improved upon existing interactive tangible user interfaces (ITUIs) by enhancing their audio content and adding more flexible user control options. A mixed-methods approach evaluated the ITUI’s usability, ability to be used independently, and user satisfaction. Quantitative data were gathered using ITUI-specific satisfaction, usability, comparison, and general preference scales, while insights were obtained through notes taken during a think-aloud protocol as participants interacted with the ITUIs, direct observation, and analysis of video recordings of the experiment. The results showed a strong preference for a Pushbutton-based ITUI, which scored highest in usability (M = 87.5), perceived independence (72%), and user control (76%). Participants stressed the importance of tactile interaction, clear feedback, and customizable audio features like volume and playback speed. These findings underscore the vital role of user control and precise feedback in designing accessible museum experiences.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4811museum accessibilityblind and partially sighted visitors (BPS)interactive tangible user interfaces (ITUIs)independent explorationuser control |
| spellingShingle | Theresa Zaher Nasser Tsvi Kuflik Alexandra Danial-Saad Empowering Independence for Visually Impaired Museum Visitors Through Enhanced Accessibility Sensors museum accessibility blind and partially sighted visitors (BPS) interactive tangible user interfaces (ITUIs) independent exploration user control |
| title | Empowering Independence for Visually Impaired Museum Visitors Through Enhanced Accessibility |
| title_full | Empowering Independence for Visually Impaired Museum Visitors Through Enhanced Accessibility |
| title_fullStr | Empowering Independence for Visually Impaired Museum Visitors Through Enhanced Accessibility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Empowering Independence for Visually Impaired Museum Visitors Through Enhanced Accessibility |
| title_short | Empowering Independence for Visually Impaired Museum Visitors Through Enhanced Accessibility |
| title_sort | empowering independence for visually impaired museum visitors through enhanced accessibility |
| topic | museum accessibility blind and partially sighted visitors (BPS) interactive tangible user interfaces (ITUIs) independent exploration user control |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4811 |
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