[Tektalkdiscussion] Fw: Mikesmess2 Accessibility and New Technology in the Museum

[Bob Acosta]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda Gehres" <ljgehres at comcast.net>
To: "Michael Gorman" <mikesmess2 at mikesmess.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 8:36 AM
Subject: Mikesmess2 Accessibility and New Technology in the Museum


Thought this article might be of interest to some.

Linda G.

Accessibility and New Technology in the Museum

Judith Kirk, Mathers Museum of World Cultures, USA

Abstract

This paper will examine how the convergence of technologies such as
positioning systems, mobile computing, and wireless connectivity may impact
accessibility for museum visitors with disabilities. In addressing these
issues the paper will describe the MUSEpad Project, a joint venture between
Indiana University's Mathers Museum of World Cultures and Information in
Place, Inc., a software development firm in Bloomington, Indiana.The MUSEpad
project team is designing,
developing, and evaluating a mobile computing tool that will enable visitors
with disabilities to customize and optimize their learning and leisure
experiences in museums through the emerging technology of WorldBoard.
WorldBoard utilizes wireless connectivity and positioning technologies to
extend the capabilities of the World Wide Web by virtually attaching
information and tools to specified locations. The project partners have
recently undertaken a six-month feasibility
study funded by the National Institutes of Health. During this study,

. Creating user profiles via focus groups and visitor studies techniques
addressing issues of mobility, dexterity, visual and auditory acuity,
cognitive abilities and technology acceptance.
. Developing customizable content, enabling users to set preferences and
options  . Undertaking pilot testing and usability testing to determine
feasibility and key design issues
. Investigating the development of an authoring tool, template, and
guidelines for creating MUSEpad content.

Keywords: mobile computing, universal access, assistive technology, and
disabilities

Introduction

Museums are the treasure houses of our society, repositories of this
nation's artistic, scientific, and cultural heritage. But too often access
to this heritage is limited for individuals with disabilities. This dilemma
has led a group of researchers, funded by a Small business Innovation
Research Grant by the National Institutes of Health, to design, develop, and
evaluate MUSEpad, a mobile computing tool for use in museums that will
enable individuals
with disabilities an opportunity to customize and optimize their learning
experiences in museums.

Convergence of technologies

MUSEpad is a first-generation WorldBoard-enabled device. WorldBoard,
conceived at Apple Computer (Spohrer, 1999) and developed at Indiana
University, is an extension of the Web that utilizes wireless connectivity
and positioning systems to enable visitors to access Web-based information
correlated with physical locations or objects

WorldBoard represents a convergence of technologies--handheld computing
devices, wireless networking, and positioning and proximity devices-- all
proliferating in consumer products. The first commercially successful
personal digital assistant, the Palm Pilot, is taking vertical markets by
storm. The Palm Pilot
represents a growing trend in the hardware business, the development of
information appliances--task-specific devices with limited functionality. As
this market emerges and begins to mature we are beginning to see increasing
convergence with other functionality--wireless connectivity on handhelds and
MP3 players built into cell phones are just some of the current examples.
New technologies in real-time operating systems and processors are creating
new market
and development opportunities.

Along with the trends in computing miniaturization and specialization,
positioning systems products are maturing and becoming affordable. Global
positioning satellite technology is now commonly used in consumer grade
products, such as in-car navigation systems. There are other developing
systems such as accelerometers and video recognition. Additionally, several
cost-effective proximity devices are available, including the low-end bar
code scanner and radio frequency
identification (RFID) devices.

Convergence of Philosophies

These technologies are exploding at a time when museums are seeking new ways
to increase accessibility to our facilities and learning activities. Too
often we offer a single-tiered approach, segregating disabled visitors,
limiting their choices and opportunities. This in turn denies an important
concept surrounding the benefits of a museum experience: that a meaningful,
successful visit must integrate physical context with the personal and
social context of the visitor.
(Falk & Dierking, 1992)

Concerns about personal context serves not only disabled individuals, but
the larger population, as well. Increasing awareness of multiple
intelligences (Gardner, 1983) and varying learning styles as well as
constructivist theory have resulted in a call for greater flexibility and
"customizable" content among educators (Duffy & Jonassen, 1992).

MUSEPad Goals

Rather than a pre-packaged, single program aimed toward specific
disabilities, not specific individuals, MUSEpad offers the potential of
allowing each visitor to choose the experience that best reflects his or her
personal context. By using a WorldBoard-enabled device, museum visitors
could access and select from a wide range of content files (text, sound, or
graphical) and tools virtually attached to a specific exhibit case or
artifact. These information files could include vivid audio descriptions of
museum artifacts, accompanying period music, large-print text, or more
detailed information on the subject matter.

Because WorldBoard is a Web-based extension, museum visitors could also use
the MUSEpad to access related content (such as exhibition reviews, art
critiques, or historical period information) on the World Wide Web while
moving about the museum. By "picking and choosing" visitors using the
MUSEpad could tailor their museum experiences to reflect personal
preferences, interests, and moods, as well as accommodate disabilities and
special needs.

MUSEpad Design and Development

The design and development of this device was undertaken through four
primary steps: the creation of user profiles, the development of
customizable content, pilot and usability testing, and the investigation of
a content authoring kit.

Researchers worked with consultants to establish a foundation for
understanding the needs and concerns of our target populations. A key issue
under consideration was the determination of which device functions might
serve the greatest number of visitors balanced against helping those who
need the most help accessing museum content. Representatives from three
adult populations were recruited to participate in design and usability
testing--individuals with low vision, individuals with low hearing, and
individuals with mobility impairments.

The creation of audience profiles required an extensive review of literature
concerning difficulties faced by members of these target populations and the
documentation of issues relevant to usability and acceptability of various
potential design of MUSEpad. Additionally, researchers examined past
practices with assistive technologies to determine possible approaches to
the design.

Museum observations, focus groups, and interviews were also incorporated
into the development to obtain information directly from target audience
members with regard to their use and adoption of assistive technologies and
their prior experiences in museum settings.

Drawing on resources held by the Mathers Museum of World Cultures the team
developed a list of content "types" offered by museums to enhance exhibition
and visit experiences. The visitor's personal choice and selection of
content, whether locally or globally generated, is possible through the use
of channels, a key WorldBoard concept that differentiates the technology
from standard Web-based interfaces. Channels offer multiple entry-points to
information and
can be based on a variety of characteristics, such as age, gender,
educational backgrounds, or interests.

For example, while a blind adult visiting a museum may prefer hearing an
audio description of the motif or ornamentation of an artifact on exhibit, a
child who is blind may choose instead to hear a story illustrating the role
of that artifact in ceremonial ritual. A third visitor, with low vision, may
choose to access magnified images of the artifact through a MUSEpad
graphical file. These individuals may share similar disabilities, and be in
the same place at the same time accessing information about the same
artifact, but WorldBoard's channel capabilities allow for each individual to
have a completely different and customized experience.

Using off the-shelf hardware and software we built a primitive system in
which we tested feasibility to determine key design issues, and via
interviews and usability tests users assessed the appropriateness of the
technologies used to deliver the content and tools.

The device contains a basic set of tools that can be used in most museum
settings, and, additionally, the project team is exploring the development
of an authoring kit that will enable others to create content for this
device. Just as importantly, the system will be extensible to other
leisure-time settings--zoos,
parks, and aquaria, among others.

Bibliography

Duffy, T. M. and Jonassen, D. H. (eds.) (1992). Constructivism and the
technology of instruction: a conversation. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum
Associates, Publishers.

Falk, J. and Dierking, L. (1992). The Museum experience. Washington, D.C.:
Whalesback Books.

Gardner, H. (1993). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences.
New York: BasicBooks.



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