CS Neamtu: Enriching Visitor's Experience to the Worcester Art Museum with Mobile Apps

Connors, Timothy; Dyer, Randolph; Coppola, Theo

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CS Neamtu: Enriching Visitor's Experience to the Worcester Art Museum with Mobile Apps

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Visually impaired visitors to the Worcester Art Museum often must arrange personal or group tours with staff to explore the museum while learning about the pieces. In the past, the museum has had headphone audio interpreters, however, these are no longer in commission. Thus, the museum asked the project team to develop a technological solution that builds off the museum’s existing Beyond The Visual app, started by the 2022-2023 MQP team in August 2022. The app allows users to navigate to art pieces by providing voice commands indicating directions and utilizing an indoor positioning system devised of Bluetooth low energy beacons to triangulate users’ location. This functionality was added to the existing React Native app, while committing to accessible, research-based design. The app was user tested with visually impaired participants involved with Audio Journal in Worcester. This addition to the app aims to expand its usage within the museum and allow visually impaired persons (VIPs) to navigate and experience the museum without needing an in-person guide.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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