Interactive Accessibility for the Visually Impaired

To help those visitors with visual impairments access the experiences and content presented in the light area in Launch Pad (a hands-on gallery at the Science Museum London), two exhibit extensions were developed. Exhibit extensions are tools that allow visitors to interact with the phenomena of an exhibit on a personal level. These exhibit extensions dealt with the reflective abilities of light and the color spectrum of light, and allow visually impaired visitors to conceptualize the scientific principles involved through tactile and auditory means. The extensions also bridge the gap in the understanding between those who experience visual phenomena and those whose sight is limited. The design of the exhibits was supported by research into techniques for educating the visually impaired