Audio Description For The Blind

I am working with the North Carolina Museum o Natural Sciences to better their audio-descriptive program. They are working on a grant for better accessible technology, and we are all putting our thinking caps on.

One person suggested RFID tags which, when within a certain range of the tag (a few feet), would read the data within the tags, namely an audio-description of the exhibit it is assigned to. For example, an RFID could be attached to the sign for the surprise box, an exhibit within the bug zone that is changed frequently...last time I went, it was huuuuge grasshoppers (about the size of a person's hand). When within a few feet of this exhibit, the RFID reader would scan the tag, then read off a fdescription of these large grasshoppers, what subspecies they are, and the fun facts about them.

Could this work? I have done some research into RFID tags, and seen that they are manily used for inventorying and identification purposes, but could they be used for a museum's audio-description program, like the RFID program thatuses RFID tags to hold audio books to read, or the program that saves video games on RFID tags? If so, how much can be stored in an RFID tag?

Any other information on RFID tags, or ideas on other good accessible technology for audio-description programs in museums would be much appreciated. For the most part, such a program would be for the blind and visually impaired, but can also be used by people who can't read print (dyslexic, for example), and non-English speakers (they have a Spanish version of the audio-description).

If the audio comes from the display then why not just use a motion sensor that triggers when someone crosses it. You could mark a big green circle on the floor where they are supposed to stand to hear it. I would assume right now the user has to push a button?

If you're looking to have a device that audio comes from when they pass the exhibit RFID might be good, but it would be expensive. The units could go missing or get damaged too.

RFID would be suitable to play tailored content as you could then tell who the user is. That would be akin to replacing a two button system, one button for English, the other for Spanish audio for example.

You could also track who went to what exhibits or allow access to certain areas. If you don't need any of those options then RFID would be a waste of money. Although the gimmick factor might work for customers.

You would have to work on the range. Most readers are short range (ie: less than a foot) but some can read up to 40'. It would be expensive most likely to implement as there would a lot of custom electronics work involved.The actual tags are pretty cheap though.

2009-07-24 11:39:20 by Jewel

Dr. David Ticchi, Harvard alum with three degrees, returns to the Ed. School for an alumni magazine photo shoot in Gutman Library. This version of ...

I am working with a local museum to make the museum more accessible and more enjoyable by PWDs. Now don't get me wrong, the museum complies with all ADA requirements...it's a state museum, so they made absolutely sure of that. But they want to go above and beyond. Right now, we are updating the audio-descriptive program and looking into a better technology for that program...I am adding braille to the exhibit signs so blind people can know what number to press for the exhibit's audio-description, and we'll be working on a tactile map and braille in some transition places (for example, when the exhibits transition from tropics to forests, or the like).

As a PWD, what would you like to see in museums to make your visit more enjoyable? We're talking above and beyond ADA requirements.

It would be useful if there were more chairs/benches around, where people could sit down to rest. I can't stand for very long at a time and need to sit down every now and then. In many public buildings there is lack of places to sit, or they are only in one part of the building, which is not very useful for people with disabilities who can't keep walking back around half of the building to sit down.

2009-07-24 11:57:18 by Jewel

Price: $19.99 $14.30