ArteConTacto Technisches Museum Wien

The Technical Museum in Vienna has long been trying to barrier-free access to its exhibitions and has helped many people with special needs makes the museum visit. The integration of visually impaired people was previously held mainly by special tours. The exhibition has for the work developed in the TMW in cooperation with the firm and the ArteConTacto VRVis Research Institute tactile materials to make the content of the show for all audiences tangible. In particular, blind and visually impaired people should be motivated to explore the exhibition, whether on your own or with company. The materials are developed in close cooperation with the Federal-Blind Education Institute in Vienna and the reactive groups and tested several times before they are used. They are coordinated so that they cover all phases of the exhibition visit: On the website of the museum in the DAISY format specifically created just blindly offered directions to the museum. At the museum receives the information visually impaired visitors a portfolio with Tastdiagrammen on paper (such as the Paradise) and explanations in easy to read font and in Braille, as well as an MP3 player with a special audio tour (including descriptions of the ways to toilets etc). At the entrance to the exhibition is a great example table model, which makes the spatial situation vividly, especially the size relationships between the melting pot, the Paradise and the stations. From this model, a navigation system runs on selected objects. Some of them are determined to attack directly, others available in palpable relief. This form of multi-sensory perception is advantageous not only for blind people, but it will benefit all visitors. After the return of the portfolio a brief survey is conducted and the results are again in the continuing development of the methodology.

For reasons of accessibility, the following text spoken by a Computer.

In 2011, we have adapted a temporary exhibition of the technical Museum in Vienna.

The exposition is installed on the 3rd level of the West Wing.

The materials we've created for the exhibition "In work" are of different style.

Firstly, a handmade architectural model of the exhibition space, which stands at the entrance of the exhibition.

Secondly, a model of one of the main objects of the exhibition, a melting pot.

This model is built from photos we took of the melting pot.

This information was converted into three-dimensional records and then produced on a scale 1:50 on a 3-D printer.

It is located now in the architectural model, in the exact same position and on an appropriate scale to the original.

The model is attached so that it well can be handled by wheelchair users and school children.

We use the "design for all" approach, to ensure a multicultural sensorielles and pleasant experience for all Museum visitors.

However, we have created a special attention to the needs of visitors with visual impairments.

Therefore, we have produced also a neck solution with tactile diagrams on paper,

which contains useful information, but also tactile diagrams of images, such as the scenes of paradise.

The image is first translated in line and area charts

from which the computer, the altitude information calculated to create a relief.

All materials (including the directions by the Museum)

described in an audio tour, which also from the Museum home page

can be downloaded.

The first part of the exhibition is dedicated to the manual work and the tool.

In this regard, we have created copies of various knives,

as for example of this hunting knife from the 19th century.

with inlays of ivory, the hunting scenes with dogs and feral pigs pose.

The original meters are for conservation and safety reasons under glass.

We have scanned objects such as this knife used by blacksmiths

and then 1:1 models made of transparent acrylic.

The copies were installed on the surface of the display case, directly from the originals.

In this way, visitors can a better picture of the form

Make the decor and size of the different knives.

A tactile navigation system directs the visitor to the next exhibition area.

Each of the six exhibition areas is characterized by a different pictogram.

These images can easily be converted to tactile diagrams on paper.

The text is reproduced in Braille and is explained in the audio-guide.

Some parts of the exhibition consist of audio and video stations.

They were also integrated into our program.

In the case of the wooden washing machine from the 19th century

have we translated also the trademark in a tactile diagram,

and recorded in the neck.

The offered materials are supplemented by special guided tours,

They are tailored to the special needs of visitors.

The exhibition can be seen until the year 2014 at the technical Museum Vienna.