Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Head of the research project:  Larissa D'Angelo, PhD

Museums have always represented important informal learning environments designed to engage visitors through traditional and digitalized exhibits spaces. Particular attention has been dedicated to universal access services in EU museums (Hooper-Greenhill 1999, Raffi 2017, Ramos 2019, Garcia et al. 2020) and the effectiveness of visitor learning experiences in contemporary museums thanks to a careful design of space, exibit curation and the use of multimedia technology (Rainoldi, Yu & Neuhofer 2020, Parry 2010). The present analysis concentrates on the viewing experience and learning opportunities provided by the Open MUSE project of the renowned science museum MUSE in Trento, Italy. In particular, a portable eye tracker (Pupil Core eye-tracking headset, 200 Hz) is utilized to record the viewing and interactive experience of children with learning disabilities (aged 5-13) while exploring an exibit space with the help of an ETR (Easy to Read) guide created by MUSE and Anffas Trentino Onlus, to make the museum more inclusive, accessible and participatory. The ETR guide was created by rewriting a traditional guide following the European standards for making information easy to read and understand (Inclusion Europe 2021) using a simplified language and sintax. The reading patterns and behaviours of the young visitors involved are measured, accompanied by a short questionnaire evaluating the quality end efficacy of the medium.

References:

Garcia Carrizosa, Helena, Kieron Sheehy, Jonathan Rix, Jane Seale, and Simon Hayhoe. "Designing Technologies for Museums: Accessibility and Participation Issues." Journal of Enabling Technologies 14.1 (2020): 31-39

Hooper-Greenhill, Eilean. The Educational Role of the Museum. 2nd ed. London New York: Routledge, 1999. Print. Leicester Readers in Museum Studies.

Parry, Ross. Museums in a Digital Age. 2010. Leicester Readers in Museum Studies.

Raffi, Francesca. "Full Access to Cultural Spaces (FACS): Mapping and Evaluating Museum Access Services Using Mobile Eye-tracking Technology." Ars Aeterna: Literary Studies and Humanity 9.2 (2017): 18-38.

Rainoldi, Mattia, Chung-En Yu, and Barbara Neuhofer. "The Museum Learning Experience Through the Visitors’ Eyes: An Eye Tracking Exploration of the Physical Context." Eye Tracking in Tourism. Cham: Springer International, 2020. 183-99. Tourism on the Verge.

Ramos, Mariana. "Museum in a Box: An Inclusive Design Project on Museum Accessibility/Museum in a Box: Um Projeto De Design Inclusivo Na Acessibilidade Museologica." Revista Croma (Lisboa) 14 (2019): 58.