The accessibility of culture is a central and very important issue for mister Patrick Bézier, Director of Audiens. Involved in the cultural field for many years, he places this issue at the heart of his work, which is as important for young people, people in difficulty as for people with disabilities. In order to make culture more accessible, technology is becoming a matter of course in our increasingly connected society. An overview of the various technological devices set up in the exhibition venues.
The audio-guide
The audio-guide is certainly the best known device. It was introduced in the 1990s. It is useful for blind and sighted people alike. It is a device that takes the form of a smartphone and gives the description of the works as well as additional information. Some even provide a sound ambiance to immerse the visitor in a new experience.
Concerning the accessibility of culture for people with disabilities, more and more museums are offering cartels in Braille (a small plaque that gives information such as the title of the work, the artist, the date, etc.). Also to make art and culture more accessible for people with visual impairments, some museums offer reproductions of the plastic works printed using 3D printers. This gives them the opportunity to touch the works directly and can discover art in a different light.
The visioguide
Slightly less known, the visioguide allows a visual rather than an audio approach. It is therefore more naturally intended for the hearing impaired, but it is also perfectly suitable for the intellectually impaired. The visioguide helps to attract the visitor’s attention with animations and varied iconography.
Nowadays, this approach is made easier because everyone has a smartphone or a tablet. All they have to do is download the video support via the flashcodes or download terminals present in the museums.
Norio, a robot for people with reduced mobility
Even less known than the visioguide, Norio is a robot that was developed in 2015 to help people with reduced mobility to visit the inaccessible rooms of the Château d’Oiron. They sit in a room facing a screen connected to the robot and can direct its movements in the room with a simple mouse. The images are broadcast in real time in HD on the screen. They can thus move freely around the room and admire the works as they wish. In addition, they can communicate with the people accompanying them thanks to a microphone.
This brief overview does not reflect all the opportunities offered by new technologies in terms of cultural accessibility. However, they do allow us to look to the future in a better light where everyone, regardless of their condition, will be able to enjoy culture without hindrance. For more information on Patrick Bézier, click here : https://fr.linkedin.com/in/patrick-bezier-2bb113124 .
