Creating Accessible Science Museums With User-Activated Environmental Audio Beacons (Ping!)

Creating accessible science museums with user-activated environmental audio beacons (ping!).

In 2003, Touch Graphics Company carried out research on a new invention that promises to improve accessibility to science museums for visitors who are visually impaired. The system, nicknamed Ping!, allows users to navigate an exhibit area, listen to audio descriptions, and interact with exhibits using a cell phone-based interface. The system relies on computer telephony, and it incorporates a ...

A Computer Animation System for Creating Deaf-Accessible Math and Science Curriculum Materials

In this paper we report the development and initial evaluation of the ASL system. The ASL system is an innovative software tool that allows educators of the Deaf to add sign language translation, in the form of 3D character animations, to digital learning content. Although this first iteration of the system is designed specifically to improve deaf students access to K-3 math educational materia...

Creating Smart and Accessible Ubiquitous Knowledge Environments

Digital libraries offer substantial volumes of declarative knowledge to the information society. This paper explores the extent to which current and future digital libraries, also known as ubiquitous knowledge environments, can be made sufficiently usable, accessible and smart to support an inclusive information society and the aspiration of universal access. Using a range of converging methods...

Explaining Life: Microorganisms in Science Museums

Innovative Sensors for Environmental Monitoring in Museums

Different physical and chemical factors, such as light, temperature, relative humidity, pollutants and so on, can affect works of art on display. Each factor does not act individually, but its effect can be enhanced or accelerated by the presence of other factors. Accordingly, an evaluation of the impact of the whole environment on art objects is recognized as an essential requirement for conse...