'I felt I was right there with them': the impact of sound-enriched audio description on experiencing and remembering artworks, for blind and sighted museum audiences

This study explored the impact of sound-enriched audio descriptions (AD) on the experience and memorability of a digitally presented photography exhibition. Forty blind and partially blind (BPB) and forty sighted participants were presented with eight photographs from the Museum of London's arc...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Museum management and curatorship (1990) 2024-11, Vol.39 (6), p.733-750
Main Authors: Hutchinson, R., Eardley, A. F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
access
Art exhibits
Audiovisual materials
Handicapped accessibility
inclusive design
Memory
multisensory
Museum interpretation
Museums
Photography
Universal design
Visual impairment
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study explored the impact of sound-enriched audio descriptions (AD) on the experience and memorability of a digitally presented photography exhibition. Forty blind and partially blind (BPB) and forty sighted participants were presented with eight photographs from the Museum of London's archive. Four photos were presented with a standard audio descriptive guide (ADG) and four with a sound-enriched audio descriptive guide (EDG). Experience and memorability were assessed directly after the presentation, and approximately 4 weeks later. Results demonstrated that sighted people remembered more photos than BPB people did with ADG. However, when photos were presented with EDG, the BPB and sighted groups remembered equal number of photos and equal numbers of details. EDG was also enjoyed and preferred by both BPB and sighted participants. Findings suggest that EDGs could be used within mainstream museum offerings as inclusive audio interpretation, thus enhancing access and enjoyment for many visitors and facilitating shared experiences.
ISSN:0964-7775
1872-9185
DOI:10.1080/09647775.2023.2188482