Research projects

The BeauCoup project aims at creating low-threshold, multisensory, inclusive solutions that support older adults in exploring and interacting with cultural heritage. The development brings together ten leading European institutions from technology, inclusive research, art, and culture and invites the target group, older people, to participate in the research project from its conception to its implementation.

Cultural participation can positively impact the quality of life at any age. However, especially older people, who particularly benefit socially and cognitively from the exploration of cultural heritage, are to date often unable to experience art and culture for a variety of reasons, such as immobility or other limitations. To tackle these challenges, the BeauCoup consortium aims to create needs-based solutions for older people to let them explore and interact with cultural heritage outside existing institutional contexts using innovative multisensory, inclusive, and interdisciplinary technologies.

Enabling cultural experiences for senior citizens via multisensory, low-threshold technologies using digital and analog tools constitute the project's main challenge. In order to develop ideal solutions for the art reception needs of older people, both the end-users themselves as well as application partners such as museums, exhibitors, tourist agencies, or municipalities are involved throughout the entire project through participatory research, including workshops and end-user evaluations of the technical developments.

Key project results

At the heart of BeauCoup is the development of three service delivery models (SDMs) covering different user scenarios. These three toolboxes will be based on existing research solutions from all partners that will be integrated and further developed. For example, the research results and experiences gained in the VRVis-coordinated and award-winning Horizon2020 project ARCHES will find a new and extended application.

By using a multisensory approach focusing on the target group, senior citizens will be enabled to experience culture in a way that stimulates their cognitive processes and socialization with like-minded peers and intergenerational groups. The three SDMs – called "The Bag", "The Box", and "The Screen" – will provide need-based set-ups for accessible art experiences for different settings.

• Exploring local cultural heritage via "The Bag": This set of tools, analog and digital, represents the support that older adults need to explore a city on their own: a tactile map to guide them to the different points of interest, a tablet with special accessibility features, tactile reliefs, and 3D printed replicas. In addition, a public mobile app provides content on different media (e.g., audio descriptions or videos that can be individually enhanced to improve the video experience for low vision users) to learn interesting facts about a city's history, art, and culture.
• Explore remote cultural heritage via "The Box": This set-up consists of analog and digital tools that allow people to enjoy art and culture on different topics and locations. Furthermore, it enables shared multisensory experiences under the guidance of experts. For instance, "The Box" allows reading enlarged prints, experimenting with taste and scent inspired by specific thematic cultural content, as well as visiting virtually curated pop-up exhibitions on a tablet, supported by avatar sign language interaction. Our extended Tactile Multimedia Guide will also be part of "The Box", where users can experience interactive, multisensory content.
• Overcome limited mobility via "The Screen": A special app on a tablet offers an easy way to engage in remotely accessible thematic visits to featured environments and attractions. The app features a simple, fully accessible, and intuitive interface, with which participants can virtually join a live, and thus interactive, guided tour. Also, direct communication with the tour guide is just as possible as engaging in lively discussions with other participants.

With these SDMs, the BeauCoup project will set new standards in bringing culture to the people and connecting them through a shared experience in order to stimulate social interaction and active life.