The World Summit Awards recognize digital and technological applications that create benefit for society. The aim of the awards is to promote local projects and increase their visibility in an international context. After Andreas Reichinger from VRVis convinced the jury of the WSA Austria in 2020 with the EU project ARCHES, he can also celebrate winning in the "Culture & Heritage" category this year.
Ongoing development to facilitate barrier-free art experiences
VRVis has been working on digital solutions for the inclusive communication of art and culture for more than ten years. Among other things, researcher Andreas Reichinger developed a software-supported method that can be used to translate artworks and exhibits into digital 2.5D models using photos or 3D scans. These serve as templates for tactile reliefs, which are then milled from various materials. This opens up the possibility of touching and interacting with a painting, not only for people with visual impairments. All museum visitors, especially children, older people and people with cognitive impairments, can use the reliefs to “grasp” the objects on display and experience art in a different dimension.
Current project to promote the active participation of older people
Inspired by feedback from users of the tactile reliefs, VRVis researcher Andreas Reichinger has designed an interactive multimedia guide. This combines the senses of sight, hearing and touch and allows a comprehensive, inclusive engagement with various objects. Andreas Reichinger is currently working on further developing the interactive multimedia guide as part of the EU project "BeauCoup". The focus here is on older people: The aim is to create easy-to-implement, digital and analog solutions that make it easier for them to encounter art/culture, especially outside of institutional contexts.
Further information
Vienna, November 22 2023
Communication & PR
drobna(at)vrvis.at +43 1 908 98 92 207