Exhibit Design Relating to Low Vision and Blindness: Current Media Technology, Appropriate Application of Technology, Future Research Needs

Summary

The rapidly evolving world of technology brings a wide variety of inexpensive, off-theshelf devices and services to cultural institutions to be exploitation to enhance the experiences of disabled visitors. Handheld and mobile devices are emerging that make use of standard text, audio and video formats and those devices are becoming more accessible themselves. Additional research is needed to help museums and other organizations determine the appropriate application of the particular technology to the specific venue, exhibit, content and space. Museums should also expand their existing relationships into a collaborative effort to share, recycle and reuse adaptive content for exhibits and traveling shows which are common to a number of institutions. Finally, institutions should closely follow the accessibility guidelines of the Web Accessibility Initiative of the W3C so as to assure accessible online and well as on-site experiences.