Museum of Work and Culture wins grant to install cutting-edge visual impairment service Area
Grant from the Rhode Island Foundation supports new technology that will enable those who are blind and low vision to tour exhibits independently
WOONSOCKET, R.I. – On Tuesday, October 15, 4 pm, the Museum of Work and Culture will launch Aira, a technology that will allow visitors with visual impairments to tour its exhibits with greater independence. The new service enables visitors to use their smartphone to connect with an agent, who will use the phone’s camera to describe objects, read exhibit signage and offer navigational directions.
“Our community is strengthened by the participation of all. We seek to give visitors who are blind and low vision the same autonomy all visitors to the museum have while touring. This will make it possible for all Rhode Islanders with a visual impairment to access their history and engage with it on their terms,” said Anne Conway, Director of the Museum.
Support for the initiative came from the Rhode Island Foundation through a grant from its Program for the Blind Fund.
The evening will feature remarks from Anne Conway & Sarah Carr from the Museum, Ricky Bogert of the Rhode Island Foundation, and representatives of the Governor’s Advisory Council for the Blind and Aria, who will conclude the presentation with a demonstration of the service.
The event will also include the unveiling of a tactile map project completed by Woonsocket 8th grade students. Together, they designed 3D prints of buildings in the Blackstone Valley Heritage Corridor to adhere to the Museum’s welcome map. Visitors with visual impairments will now be able to engage with the dimensional prints to better gauge the types of buildings found throughout the region.