A new option for the visually impaired to experience 3D art at museums: manual exploration of virtual copies

Abstract

Visitors to museums are usually not allowed to touch works of art, which means significant restrictions in the experience of art for visually impaired people. A European research project (PURE-FORM), coordinated by PERCRO in Pisa, Italy, indicates a new option. It aims to make possible manual exploration of virtual 3D copies of works of art via a haptic display developed within the project. A selection of statues has been digitized, and virtual 3D copies of them made available for touching. The final goal is that a virtual library of statues will be created that is accessible at all museums having the necessary equipment.