At the age of 18, Frida Kahlo experienced a catastrophic bus accident that fractured both her legs, ribs, and collarbone.
She was already suffering from polio, and this catastrophic event pushed her to a life of scars and continual pain.
What did Frida do?
She stood as a vibrant icon of modern art, celebrated for her vividly colored and unyielding self-portraits that explore themes such as identity, the human form, and mortality.
If art's greatest contributors can be differently abled, then why should disabled people be kept from their art hanging on museum walls?
This is why accessibility is significant in museums.
In this article, we will explain how museum mobile apps allow disabled people to experience exhibitions.
But, before that - let’s understand the different disabilities that affect people and how museums need to address them.
The Need For Inclusivity Across Museums
According to a study by the University of Michigan, out of 21% of adults visiting art museums and galleries, 11% are disabled.
Hence, the study argues, “For museums, people with disabilities represent a very large potential audience that is beneficial to attract and retain.”
Disability shows up in different forms - from vision impairment, hearing impairment, and wheelchair-boundness to autism, dementia, and neurodivergent disorders.
Every disabled person has a unique requirement to experience an exhibit fully.
For instance, a visually challenged person needs multisensory approaches put in place for a museum’s visual artifacts.
Similarly, sign language videos can help people with hearing disabilities enjoy a collection and learn about the pieces.
With different needs to cater to, how do museums ensure that they are providing the most seamless service to their disabled audience?
The answer you’re looking for is museum mobile apps.
How Mobile Apps Are Promoting Disabled-Friendly Visits
In the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, The National Gallery of Modern Art launched their mobile app in collaboration with us.
The museum, run by the Department of Culture, Government of India, has three branches in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. However, the app seamlessly integrated all three campuses into one app.
Similarly, the museum app offered detailed audio guides for each exhibition, permanent and temporary.
The reason?
Inclusivity.
The museum wanted to ensure that the app empowers disabled people who are unable to physically visit museums across the country, to find a way to connect with the artworks through an online mode.
This is a classic example of how mobile apps can enable disabled people to experience museums in an immersive way.
How Mobile Apps Enhance Audio Guides For Disabled People
As discussed in our case study, audio guides prove particularly advantageous for disabled people, especially, those with visual impairments.
The Canadian Standards of Human Rights Museum, inaugurated in 2014, leveraged audio guides in a unique way to enhance a disabled person's museum visit.
The CMHR mobile app improved museum accessibility through encrypted self-guided tours, text transcripts, interactive maps, and 'Near Me' Bluetooth features. The Near Me feature connects to the Universal Access Points (UAPs) within the museum to receive audio information about the collections.
On the other hand, Leicester Castle, historically the residence of Kings Henry IV, V, VI, and Edward IV, has significantly enhanced accessibility through the iBeacon App, developed by the University of Leicester's School of Museums.
This app provides self-guided tours with strategically placed beacons in the palace courtrooms. These beacons interact with visitors' mobile apps to deliver audio narratives, offering rich historical context and details about the courtyard.
Particularly beneficial for non-sighted visitors, the app's automatic audio trails enable them to engage with and visualize location-specific information.
Using AR And AI To Power Museum Apps For Disabled People
One persistent challenge has been ensuring that all visitors, regardless of their abilities, can fully engage with and appreciate museum exhibits. This is where the power of Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) come into play.
For instance, the Roald Dahl Museum in the UK has effectively harnessed AR through its app.
This app allows deaf visitors to point their mobile devices at displays to receive information in British Sign Language.
Similarly, the Smithsonian in the US has integrated AI with the introduction of Aira technology, designed to aid visually impaired guests. By utilizing their smartphone cameras or smart glasses, visitors can connect to a remote guide who provides verbal descriptions of exhibits and navigational assistance throughout the museum.
Museum App Enhancing Accessibility For Neurodivergent Individuals
People with cognitive differences like ADHD or dyslexia often struggle with design and navigation. This is where mobile apps rescue them in a museum.
Providing clear, concise language and avoiding metaphors or idiomatic expressions can make the content more accessible to individuals on the autism spectrum who might find figurative language challenging to interpret.
Additionally, offering features like audio guides and text descriptions that support multiple sensory modalities can help cater to a range of neurodivergent conditions.
Speaking of sensory mobilities - museum apps using soft color palettes and avoiding overstimulation with bright colors or excessive animations make the museum experience more comfortable and engaging for neurodivergent visitors.
Museum Apps As A Tool For Dementia Care
In 2020, over 55 million people worldwide had dementia. Every 20 years, this number is expected to double.
Hence, the National Museums Liverpool thought, - how can museums contribute positively to this challenge?
This resulted in the birth of the House of Memories app.
This revolutionary app allows users to engage with a library of historical objects through their mobile devices, making it accessible for both Android and Apple users. Designed with the needs of people with dementia and their carers in mind, the app facilitates reminiscence and conversation.
It features a variety of objects from different eras, such as cinema tickets, old currency, and a Singer sewing machine, each accompanied by images, sounds, and detailed descriptions to enhance the sensory experience.
What sets the House of Memories apart is its user-friendly interface, which organizes these artifacts into thematic categories like work, school, maritime, and leisure. This thematic arrangement helps users navigate the app easily and find objects that resonate personally or evoke particular memories.
Additionally, the app includes a feature called the digital memory tree, where users can save their favorite items and even upload personal photos to share with their caregivers.
Your Partner In Creating A Disabled-Friendly Museum App
Creating memorable experiences for disabled people is an important job. Museums have the responsibility to democratize art and information.
If you have decided that you want to take this responsibility as your own and create your museum mobile app to allow disabled people access, Museums22 is the perfect choice for your digital partner.
Here’s what to expect when you partner with us:
Mobile Apps: Our comprehensive app solutions extend beyond traditional audio guides, integrating galleries, exhibitions, events, and more to deepen visitor engagement.
Audio Guide Apps: Offering customizable, multilingual audio tours with QR code integration for a captivating storytelling experience.
GPS Tour Apps: These apps provide location-sensitive, audio-guided tours, delivering a personal, digital guide experience complete with navigational support and visual elements.
Web Gallery & Collection: Our dynamic web-based galleries and exhibitions enhance the museum experience, making it accessible from anywhere at any time.
Starting from only $199, Museums22 introduces our Full Stack Museum App. With Progressive Web App (PWA) technology, comprehensive content development, and extensive support services, this package is designed to meet a wide range of museum needs.
Our diverse packages cater to museums of all sizes, from our basic plan suited for smaller institutions to customized options for larger entities.
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