Independently visiting a museum
One more thing
Many museums are increasingly focused on accessibility and inclusiveness. Audio tours are offered more often. Guide dogs are allowed into the museum. In some museums, you even have guide lines.
There is only one thing this does not solve: visiting a museum independently. Visually impaired people always have to ask for help and almost always someone has to walk with them.
The eZwayZ app offers the solution here.
implemented eZwayZ
No straight path in NEMO
NEMO is a museum where there is no straight path. There is no route to follow and therefore visitors sometimes get lost. For the blind and visually impaired, the museum was actually not accessible. That had to improve.
Maaike de Vreede, project leader at NEMO, came into contact with eZwayZ via the Accessibility Foundation. Together we set to work. Scanning the building, making descriptions of all objects and training the staff on how to use the app.
Visitors module
Besides directions, the ‘Visitors module’ has also been introduced. This module provides instructions: what can you do here, and an image description: what can you see here. That information ensures that someone has the same experience as a sighted visitor. The management module in the cloud ensures that the NEMO itself can make changes.
Happy visitor
An enthusiastic English tourist gave the following feedback: “Museums often aren't accessible to me and having an app like this actually makes it fun and enjoyable. Having audio descriptions really made me feel included and helped to understand the exhibits. This app is a game changer and has incredible potential. I would love to see it used in more museums worldwide. Thank you for all your work to make NEMO accessible. I had an amazing time and it was a highlight of my visit to Amsterdam.”
Seize the opportunity
By increasing your museum's hospitality for visually impaired people, you seize the opportunity not only to attract more visitors, but to literally become a museum for everyone. Because a visually impaired or blind visitor has as much interest in experiencing, processing and enjoying a museum visit as anyone else.
Experience for yourself?
Scan or click on the QR code to download the app. And visit the Rijksmuseum, NEMO or the Media Museum in the Netherlands to experience the app for yourself. Or visit the AFAS Experience Center in Leusden.
