B81Beyond Accessibility: Designing Museums and Exhibits that Welcome and Satisfy All Visitors

www.HumanCenteredDesign.org

November 17, 2011Socially Sustainable Design Build Boston

The Boston Society of Architects/AIA is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems.  Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members.  Certificates of Completion for non‐AIA members are available on request.

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education.  As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.  Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

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Session Objectives• Learn details of the 2010 ADA Standards and their implications for 

museums;

• Appreciate the interpretation of museum responsibilities for accessibility today as judged by Department of Justice settlement agreements;

• Understand how to frame design solution for museums intended to enhance and enrich the visitor experience;

• Illustrate solutions for inclusive museum design.

www.HumanCenteredDesign.org

An international nonprofit based in Boston dedicated to enhancing the experiences of people of all ages and abilities through excellence in design.

Presenters• Janice Majewski, Accessibility Specialist, US Department of Justice, 

Washington, DC

• Nurit Neustadt‐Noy, Ph.D, Principal, Consultation and Rehabilitation Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons, Netaim, Israel

• Chris Downey, RA, Principal, Architecture for the Blind, Oakland, CA

• Emmanuel Andrade, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, Architectural Designer, Institute for Human Centered Design, Boston, MA (moderator)

www.HumanCenteredDesign.org

Design powerfully and profoundlyinfluences us and our sense ofconfidence, comfort, and control. 

Variation in ability is ordinary, not special,and it affects most of usfor at least part of our lives.

2 core ideas...

a framework for the design of places, things, information, communication, and policy:

that focuses on the user

that serves the widest range of people, operating in the widest range of situations, without special or separate design… 

that allows for human‐centered design[of everything] with everyone in mind

INCLUSIVE DESIGNUNIVERSAL DESIGNDESIGN‐FOR‐ALL

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (2001)

“Mainstreamed” the experience of disability and recognized it as a universal human experience

Equalized mental and physical reasons for disability

Redefined disability as a contextual phenomenon,  dictated by the intersection of a person and his/her environment

UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES• Equitable Use.

The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.• Flexibility in Use.

The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.• Simple, Intuitive Use.

Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

• Perceptible Information.The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.

• Tolerance of Error.The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

• Low Physical Effort.The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, and with a minimum of fatigue.

• Size and Space for Approach & Use.Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the user’s body size, posture, or mobility.

Beyond Accessibility:

Designing Museums and Exhibits That Welcome

and Satisfy All Visitors

What the Market Demands

 36 million Americans have disabilities (U.S. Census)  74 million Americans are 55 +(Administration on Aging)

 37% of 65+ have disabilities (U.S. Census)  2009, 2.2 million vets with service-related

disability (Cornell University Disability Statistics)

Accessible Exhibition Design

Many people are unaware or unwilling to ask for add-on accessible features

Accessible Exhibition Design

If accessible

features do not exist,

patrons can file a

complaint with the

Department of

Justice

DOJ Settlement Agreements

The International Spy Museum

DOJ Settlement Agreements

Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens

Access: Exhibition Route

The route through the exhibition space is wide and easily navigable.

Access: Navigation

Legible signs, lighting, and absence of protruding objects and overhead obstructions provides an accessible trip through the museum

Access: Visuals

Visual presentations

require auxiliary

aids and services

to provide access

to people who are

deaf or hard of

hearing.

Access: Viewing Range Objects, label text, videos, interactives can be seen and used by people who use wheelchairs and are of short stature.

Access: Audio

Audiovisual presentations require auxiliary aids and services to provide access to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Access: Exhibition Peripherals

 Accessible Website

 Accessible Publications

 Accessible Programs

Access: Exhibition as Art

Accessibility works best as an elegant design feature, not as an ugly adhesive patch stuck to the surface.

Accessible Museums for Universal Use

Ensure that your museum is accessible.   Questions about accessible museums?

Call the U.S. Department of Justice ADA Information Line:

800-514-0301 (voice) 800-514-0383 (TTY) Or visit: www.ada.gov

Nurit Neustadt

Beyond Accessibility: Designing Museums and

Exhibits that Welcome and Satisfy All

Why Should museums be accessible to visually impaired, blind and all persons?

• Welcoming a diversified audience that includes people with disabilities enhances educational, recreation opportunity and simply enjoying artwork

• Making museums design and exhibits accessible to individuals with disabilities increases business opportunities

• The law requires it

This presentation will focus on ways to make museums more accessible to visually impaired and blind patrons by applying simple physical arrangements, using systems that may increase the joy of art and exhibitions.

The presentation will include examples of systems that require no technology, low and high technology.

• No Technology

• Low Technology

• High Technology

No Tech

There are many ways in which an exisiting museum can improve access to blind and partially sighted people including:

• Physical adaptations• Guided tours in which the building, collections and

context is described• Tactile images that represent works of art, artefacts,

building facades, building layouts raised images alongside text

• Touching the real thing through touch tours or handling sessions

• All print information in the venue is also in accessible formats (e.g. large print, audio cassette, braille)

Accessible Environment ensure safety

Clear Signage/Way Finding

Enhanced hand bars

rings.designerpages.com/.../3

Tate Gallery

Tactile Warning Surface

Tactile Guiding Surface

6http://www.solvinaward.com/projects/innovation?page=

Lighting and contrast

Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, TX (1972)

Way-finding and visual languageInformative hand bar Braille

• Way-finding for the disabled is an area of visual language communication that is often over looked by designers. Coco Raynes Associateshave designed a handrail for the blind that contains Braille information on the inside and multilingual audio information that can be activated by photo sensors. They have also developed Tactile Maps that can be read by the blind and partially sighted with Braille and varying textures.

Maps and Models

Low Tech

Simple announcement machines placed in a systematic order by objects

Sensory solutionsFar-View

• FarView, a portable and powerful magnification solution that redefines how low vision users around the world are now able to access, store, review and share information with each other and their peers and colleagues.

FarView is approximately the size of a PDA, but its unique design and incomparable functionality sets it apart from any other portable or desktop device currently on the market.

FarView enables users to leverage off of its centralized, auto-focus camera to view information in six different reading modes from a distance as well as up-close. This means that today's vision impaired consumer can use FarView to access presentations, lectures or hardcopy content within the classroom, place of employment, or throughout his / her community

RNIB PENFriend or other touch and hear systems

• In partnership with the Royal National Institute for the Blind, RNIB UK, PENFriend is an award-winning, best-selling product.

• It has been sold to the blind and partially sighted in the UK, the USA and Europe as an essential labelling device.

• PENfriend has been a liberating factor. No longer do blind people have to ask fo help in finding the right CD or the can of tomatos.

• With the growing range of special easy-to-peel sticker packs, users can over 2000 individual sticky label which can record their voice describing anything from: addresses, telephone numbers, cans of foods, diaries, CDs... To art object descriptions

Haptic Torch • The Haptic Torch is a device designed to

significantly improve navigational abilities for people with varying levels of visual impairment.

• The unique design of the torch allows users to range from sighted individuals in low-light conditions to people who are both deaf and blind.

• The torch provides a method of alerting users to presence of potential hazards using non-contact measurement techniques. An subtle tactile (touch) interface conveys relevent information to the user while not interfering with other senses. Designed to be intuitive, familirization with the device takes less than a minute.

• By providing constantly updating analogue range information the user can determine the distance to an object and any changes in object position. This permits easy navigation of doorframes, optimum path identification between obstacles, location of objects in open spaces and most importantly the ability to plan a path over 3meters prior to reaching a hazard. The result are graceful movements taken mid-stride with the large reliable aura of perception increasing confidence and speed in the user.

Audio Guides

High Tech

Navigation and Information Systems

• The STEP-HEAR™ is an orientation and information system for blind and visually impaired people.

• It consists of two units: Base and Activator. The Base is installed in key locations, with pre-recorded information. The Activator, held by the user, vibrates to notify that there is a STEP-HEAR™ nearby. Pressing a button on the activator will trigger the audible recorded information from the Base also providing proximity and directionality to the location.

• The STEP-HEAR™ is specifically designed to meet the following criteria:

• The operator can change the recorded information in the Base unit via one switch and one button (up to one minute long).

• The user needs only press a button on the Activator to access the digitally pre-recorded information.

• Automatic recognition and vibrating when Activator enters within 12 feet of the base.

• Easy to install indoors and outdoors. • Low cost• http://www.step-hear.com/products-description.htm

Application of Step Hear at museum

• The uses for this unit are unlimited. It can serve as a practical direction-finding aid to indicate the location of exits, rooms, orientation points and stairs, as an information system to advise visitors about features and events, or as a simple guide to interpretive centers and on trails.

• Containing talking messages that are triggered automatically by a motion.

Audio Signage BrailliantTouch® audio

Talking Signs

1 “A skeleton of a cyberasaurus is standing on its hind legs. It is on a platform facing you

2 “Up to 20’ tall, this cyberasaurus was a voracious carnivore living 60 million years ago…

3 “This is a skeleton of an extinct dinosaur called the ‘cyberasaurus’. Extinct means that it

1 Blind

2 Adult

3 Child

Cyberasaurus

Talking Signs

Talking Signs by Osperey• Audio element feature a sound

unit with a speaker, powered by a solar cell, and the facility to change the recorded message from time to time.

• As well as the spoken word, these have been used to include bird song and music in order to develop a theme or evoke a particular atmosphere . They can be triggered by a movement sensor or a push button and open up the interpretation to a wider audience.

A vision chair based on Bacharitas-Feinsod prototype of early 1970ties

Eyal Burstein Beta Tank UK

BrainPort Vision Device for the visually impaired to 'feel' images

• Neuroscientist Paul Bach-y-Rita hypothesized in the 1960s that “we see with our brains not our eyes.”

• A new device trades on that thinking and aims to partially restore the experience of vision for the blind and visually impaired by relying on the nerves on the tongue’s surface to send light signals to the brain.

• From the Central Processing Unit, the signals are sent to the tongue via a “lollipop,” an electrode array about nine square centimeters that sits directly on the tongue.

• Each electrode corresponds to a set of pixels. White pixels yield a strong electrical pulse, whereas black pixels translate into no signal.

• Densely packed nerves at the tongue surface receive the incoming electrical signals, which feel a little like Pop Rocks or champagne bubbles to the user…

• The image looked at is displayed on the toungue

BrainPort• Natalie Ruschell, tests the

BrainPort device. • The BrainPort technology

consisting of a tiny camera mounted on glasses, a handheld control device, and a mouth probe allowed Ruschell to safely avoid obstacles while walking.

KAPTEO GPS for pedestrians• EO GUIDAGE, in partnership

with KAPSYS, is offering vocal GPS for pedestrians.

• In addition to its GPS functions, this handheld device can also be used to activate EO GUIDAGE’s sound universe, and it supports message transmission via headphones

• Simple announcement messages helps the user locate the fixture and is activated by the same remote control device used to activate pedestrian signals all over France, as well as numerous other EO GUIDAGE products.

• Once the user has located the fixture, he can access the audio information by pressing the buttons on its back side. Pushing the same button a second time while the message is playing silences the device

KAPTEO

KAPTEO indoor navigation

The iWear AV920 connects to almost any video device and delivers a virtual display equivalent

to a 62-inch screen viewed from 9 feet

JORDY• http://www.enhancedvision.com/assets/flash/demos/dem

os.cfm?demo=Jordy

• This system is another solution for active lifestyle, enabling to read, write, and see in any environment including work, home, museum exhibits. JORDY is a battery-operated, full-color portable system that can be worn like a pair of glasses to see near, far, and anything in-between. When placed on its optional desktop stand and attached to any monitor, it becomes a fully functional desktop video magnifier.

helping the blind to “see” images

• This technology is an affordable graphic reading systems for the blind and visually impaired. The system bring electronic images to life in the same way that Braille makes words readable.

• http://www.gizmag.com/go/8267/

Ultrasonic path guidance for visually impaired

• An ultrasonic path guidance system and method for the visually impaired uses an array of ultrasound transmitters that are directional and aimed at distinct locations forward of the user.

• The transmitters are positioned on the torso of the individual user and one or more receivers detect echoes from obstacles upon which the transmitted ultrasound sound impinges.

• Audible tone is generated each time an echo is received.

• The tone's frequency is dependent on which transmitter transmitted the original ultrasound pulse that resulted in the detected echo. This gives an easy to understand indication of the location of detected obstacles. The elapsed time from emission of an ultrasound pulse to reception of its echo is used to arrive at the distance to the obstacle.

• beMerlin, a gesture-based interactive system that plays out as an interactive window.

• Although it is used for visual merchandising, it looks like it has potential for other uses, such as wayfinding, building directories, interactive museum exhibits, and education.

atechnoedihttp://www.google.co.il/imgres?imgurl=http://www.atracsys.com/images/beMerlin_ex_small.jpg&imgrefurl=http://interactivemultim-m6&ei=U118&tbnw=115M:&tbnh=1&tbnid=lXfdLdMpwKZa1&zoom=19&hl=iw&start=74&sz=320&w=313KQ=&h=5QVV7LhkF6FQBvisually%2Bblind%2Bmuseums%2Bexhibits%2Baccessible%2Btechnology%2Dwayfinding%3Fq%3iUBA&prev=/search%874hAe4fHYa7Tv

1

In considering potential applications of location-sensing technologies

• Figure 4-4. The Garmin Forerunner 201 GPS watch • GPS isn't perfect. It doesn't actually work everywhere.

• Buildings terrain, electronic interference and sometimes even dense foliage can block signal reception.

• And for certain applications, such as wayfinding inside buildings, three meter accuracy isn't sufficient.

• Outdoors, receivers that combine GPS with complementary dead-reckoning technologies to estimate position by continuously tracking course, direction, and speed can handle the big picture.

• What looks like a modern piece of plastic jewelry is actually a navigation systemthat uses GPS, voice commands and audio and haptic feedback to provide the blind with a level of independence that is currently impossible for many.

• Yanko Design notes that it could benefit the sighted as well, simply making it fast and easy to navigate a new location, museums and complex buildings.

KNFB

Voice Eye

Top-Braille

Photos for the Blind• A Chinese designer has designed a new Camera for

visually impaired people. The camera named “Touch Sight” has a lightweight, flexible Braille display sheet which displays a 3D image by embossing the surface, allowing the user to touch their photo. In addition to the Braille display sheet “Touch Sight” includes a unique feature which records sound for three seconds after pressing the shutter button. When taking photographs it should be held against the forehead like a third eye. Its proved that its the optimal position to capture the image.

WuFu glasses use ultrasonic waves to create tactile images for the blind

• Intended towards visually impaired, the “WuFu” is an open hardware and open source aid that makes use of ultrasonic distance measurement, employed by the bat to fly without colliding with other bats in the dark.

• Drawing its name from the Chinese phrase “five bats” representing a symbol of luck and a long life, the visual aid carries the ultrasonic waves to sensors on opaque glasses and translates them, using two motors attached to the wrists of the wearer, into vibrations.

• Therefore, the glasses create tactile images of the surrounding space for the users, so they could move freely on their own, while a compass sensor tracks the direction of the user to keep him/her on the right path.

•

Sense For The Blind-CASBliP Is Bat

• CASBliP, also known as Cognitive Aid System for Blind People is a work in progress that aims at using visual sensors to help the visually impaired.

• People who could benefit from CASBliP range from those who see very little to totally blind persons.

• The system can either amplify visual stimuli (by enhancing contrasts, colors etc...) or turn visual/obstacle information into sounds that can be interpreted by the wearer.

• The project is developed as a collaborative European project that involves many engineering schools and universities

Museum Land van Valkenburgcoming up book on accessible museum

• The wayfinding project for the Museum Land van Valkenburg is going to be published in a Chinese book that will be internationally distributed.

• The book will be titled “Wayfinding Designs Worldwide”.

• This book will include more than 100 excellent wayfinding/signage designs around the world, and will be divided into 9 parts all relating to wayfinding design systems.

• Museum and exhibition• Park• School• Restaurant/hotel• Shop• Hospital/pharmacy• Office• Transport • Factory

• ?tag=spacewww.dennishambeukers.com/

Landes museum Mainz offers an audio guide

• For blind and visually impaired visitors there is an audio descriptive tour on the audio guides. These audio descriptions refer to select works of art, in particular the “hands on” exhibits in the new Landesmuseum Mainz which offer direct access to the exhibits. The Landesmuseum staff are fully trained to help guide blind/visually impaired visitors to the exhibits. The audio guide texts are triggered by transponders.

• For deaf visitors there is a special video guide, unique in Germany, which shows deaf presenters on the display screens presenting texts in German sign language. These videos offer a guided tour of the highlights of the Landesmuseum collection which corresponds to that of the audio guides.

• Cost for hire of audio/video guides: 1 euro.Visitors are requested to leave a deposit at the ticket desk

The Tate Museum • Touch Tours• Touch Tours introduce visually impaired visitors to the thematic

arrangement of the displays and engage with the ideas, materials and techniques of art since 1900. Tours will typically include a sculpture that can be explored through direct handling and other two and three dimensional works that are explored using a combination of raised images, handling objects, description and discussion.

• Visual description• Events that have visual description• Community programme• Tate Modern offers Art Into Life workshops for community groups.

It accommodate a wide range of groups including attendees of mental health service, homeless people, adults with learning difficulties and ESOL refugee groups.

• Web accessibility

Museums proud to announce that they are accessible and inclusive to all

• Chicago Field Museum• The Smithsonian Institution• Royal Ontario Museum• Metropolitan• Victoria and Albert• New Tate Museum• The British National Gallery• National Museums of France• National Museum of Colombia

Culture cartoon by CrippenArt-with-Touch-www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/In

A large group of Disabled people, representing various ulturesand impairments are standing at the bottom of a flight of steepsteps leading up to an arts venue.

There are large signs around advising that there is a culturalevent taking place - by invitation only.

People can be seen in the background standingaround and talking on the venue patio.

The Disabled protesters are holding up large sheets ofPaper containing information regarding various lawsthat provide unrestricted access to culturalevents by Disabled people.

These laws are headed up under the titles of theUnited Nations Convention and the Human Rights Act.

One of the protesters is also holding up a sign thatsays 'Full access to culture - by law'. At the top of thesteps is a white man in a blue suite, standing with onehand in his trouser pocket. He is saying to the group ofDisabled protesters: "But then you're all assuming thatwe actually give a toss!"

Chris Downey, AIA

Beyond Accessibility:Designing Museums and Exhibits that Welcome and Include all Visitors

• So what do we mean by ”Beyond Accessibility…”?

• Is ADA not enough?

• Contrasting opinions

• More awareness of people with sensory and cognitive impairments

Introduction

• Population stats and comps

• Spectrum of blindness

• Perfect –vs.-Imperfect Blindness

Sight Specifics

Alternate Views

Looking through other eyes

Courtesy: National Eye Institute, NIH

Macular Degeneration

Alternate Views

GlaucomaCourtesy: National Eye Institute, NIH

Alternate Views

CataractCourtesy: National Eye Institute, NIH

Alternate Views

Diabetic Retinopathy

**Prevalence of disease expected to double by 2030 Courtesy: National Eye Institute, NIH

Alternate Views

Total Blindness

Alternate Views

• Reflections from the hospital bed

• Sensory deprivation or re-allocation

Personal Experience

…as an architect:

• Reading Drawings

Personal Experience

…as an architect:

• Drawing and modeling

Personal Experience

…as an architect:

• Creative process

• Value through unique perspective

Personal Experience

The view from inside Figure 307.2

• Extent of ADA

• Form: Protruding objects and head clearance

Personal Experience

• In the public way

Extent of ADA for VI

• Elevators

Extent of ADA for VI

• Architectural Room Signs

• Wayfinding Signs

• But did we miss something here?

Extent of ADA for VI

What is an architect to do?

Create better, more effective and more inclusive design

Universal Design

Seven principals of Universal Design:

• Equitable in use… with normal, limited or no sight• Flexibility in use… with normal, limited or no sight• Simple or intuitive use… with normal, limited or no sight• Perceptive information… with normal, limited or no sight• Tolerance for error… with normal, limited or no sight• Low physical effort… with normal, limited or no sight• Size and space for approach and use… with normal, limited or no sight

Universal Design

Multi-sensory design… for “Commodity” and “Delight”

• Touch / Tactile Pallets• Acoustics• Olfactory?• Taste??• High Contrast

Universal Design

Look beyond yourself…

• …into disabled communities, users and professionals• …into books including:

• Moving Violations: “War Zones, Wheelchairs and Declarations of Independence”, by John Hockenberry

• “Out of Sight”, by Georgina Kleege• “A sense of the World, How a Blind Man Became History’s Greatest

Traveler”, by Jason Roberts

Universal Design

• American Folk Art Museum, NYC by Tsien & Williams• Art Beyond Sight• 1st International Conference of Blind Architects

Case Studies

• Tactile tour of the American Folk Art Museum

Case Studies

• American Folk Art Museum

Case Studies

Courtesy of

• American Folk Art Museum

Case Studies

Courtesy of

• “Sonic Shadows” at SF MOMA by Bill Fontana

Case Studies

Courtesy of SF MOMA and Bill Fontana

• Kimball Art Museum Fort Worth, Texas

by Luis Kahn

Case Studies

Look out for emerging technologies

• Interior wayfinding

• DeYoung iPad

• Tactile audible maps and models

Beyond Architecture

A disability is a condition that may limit a person’s mobility, hearing, vision, speech or mental function. A handicap is a restriction or a disadvantage that is placed on a person. For example, some people with disabilities use wheelchairs. Stairs, curbs and narrow doors are handicaps that hinder people who use wheelchairs. People with disabilities are not “handicapped” unless these kinds of barriers are put in their way.

From the Boy Scout’s disability Merit Badge Handbook

Architect’s Challenge

• Awareness• Disability vs. Handicap• Visible Barriers• Invisible Barriers• The architect’s vital role

Opposing perceptions from across the visual divide

• So which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Conclusion

• Imagine inclusion or perpetuate exclusion

• Design that is inclusive of the blind, people with other sensory impairments as well as various physical and cognitive impairments will provide a richer and more effective environment for all.

Conclusion

Thanks,• Chris Downey, AIA• Architecture for the Blind• www.arch4blind.com• chris.downey@arch4blind.com

Conclusion

www.HumanCenteredDesign.org

This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems

program.

Thank you.

QUESTIONS?