UTILIZING MULTI-SENSORY CUES TO ENHANCE ART GALLERY EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Abstract Assistive technologies play a major role in bridging the accessibility gap in the arts. Despite constant advancements, people with visual impairments (VI) still face challenges in independently experiencing and interpreting paintings. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of conveying the contents of a painting to people with VI using selected multi-sensory stimuli (tactile, auditory, and somatosensory) to compensate for the loss of sight. A prototype, named SEMA (Specially Enhanced Multi-sensory Art), was designed around a simple painting, incorporating actuators for the aforementioned stimuli. SEMA was developed and refined iteratively with visually impaired students at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. We analyzed and evaluated all the sensations individually and as a whole system, utilizing several quantitative and qualitative measures. The final user study, conducted with 22 visually impaired participants, showed a strong preference (92.6%) for the prototype over traditional painting experiences, highlighting its potential to enhance how VI individuals experience art. The findings of this study contribute to further exploration of multi-sensory integration in entertainment and its impact on the visually impaired community.