5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[G01-P01] Implementation of a Special Exhibition Accessible Regardless of Visual Ability: A Case Study Using 3D-Printed Models of Celestial Bodies and Spacecraft
Keywords:education for the visually impaired, people with disabilities, 3D models, 3D printing
Introduction
In August 2022, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) introduced a new definition of museums, emphasizing inclusivity, diversity, and sustainability. However, many museums in Japan still struggle to ensure information accessibility for individuals with disabilities (Japanese Association of Museums, 2019). To address this issue, the Kurobe Yoshida Science Museum hosted the “Touchable Universe” special exhibition in the 2024 fiscal year, aiming to create an inclusive environment for visitors of all backgrounds, particularly those with visual impairments. This publication outlines the exhibition's design and operation, reports on visitor responses—including those of visually impaired and sighted attendees—and evaluates the exhibition's overall effectiveness.
Overview of the Special Exhibition
The exhibition primarily featured hands-on displays created using 3D printing technology. Tactile models, including celestial bodies, spacecraft, and a planetarium projector, allowed visitors to explore shapes through touch. To engage multiple senses, some exhibits incorporated interactive elements: visitors could lift apple-shaped models weighted to reflect each planet's surface gravity or walk distances corresponding to the Sun-to-planet spacing for comparison. Additionally, genuine materials—such as meteorites and a planetarium control panel—were displayed. Braille captions accompanied all exhibits, while explanatory texts were available in both standard print and Braille, hung on walls for easy access. Guided tours, led by museum staff, were offered by reservation. To the museum's knowledge, a total of 33 visually impaired visitors attended the exhibition.
Questionnaire Results and Visitor Observations
A total of 153 questionnaires were collected, including nine from visitors with visual impairments and 162 from those presumed to be sighted. On a five-point satisfaction scale (“very satisfied,” “somewhat satisfied,” “neutral,” “somewhat dissatisfied,” “very dissatisfied”), 67% of respondents indicated they were “very satisfied,” while 21% were “somewhat satisfied.” When respondents were asked to identify the most interesting exhibits, “experiencing planetary gravity“ ranked highest, followed by “planetary distances,” “planetary models,” “black hole and nebula models,” “meteorites,” “rocket/probe/satellite models,” and the “planetarium control panel.” In open-ended comments, several respondents noted that the exhibition was enjoyable regardless of visual ability. Many also highlighted that relying on touch allowed for a more detailed examination of exhibits, which might otherwise be obscured by shadows when relying solely on sight. Of the nine visually impaired respondents, eight reported being “very satisfied,” while one indicated “neutral.”
Compared to sighted attendees, visually impaired visitors who participated in the reserved guided tours tended to spend more time touching and examining each exhibit, sometimes staying for over an hour. They appeared particularly impressed by the exhibits comparing planetary sizes and distances, as well as the planetary gravity experience. Overall, the majority of visually impaired visitors explicitly described the exhibition as “fun.”
Discussion
Based on the questionnaire results and visitor observations, this special exhibition provided a meaningful experience for individuals regardless of visual ability. The ranking of the “most interesting” exhibits suggests that interactive, physically engaging experiences may be more impactful than purely tactile exploration, especially for sighted visitors. Additionally, the equal popularity of real artifacts and astronomical models indicates that authentic objects are not necessarily perceived as more valuable or meaningful than models. Finally, the positive feedback on the reserved guided tours suggests that they are an effective approach to enhancing visitor engagement.
In August 2022, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) introduced a new definition of museums, emphasizing inclusivity, diversity, and sustainability. However, many museums in Japan still struggle to ensure information accessibility for individuals with disabilities (Japanese Association of Museums, 2019). To address this issue, the Kurobe Yoshida Science Museum hosted the “Touchable Universe” special exhibition in the 2024 fiscal year, aiming to create an inclusive environment for visitors of all backgrounds, particularly those with visual impairments. This publication outlines the exhibition's design and operation, reports on visitor responses—including those of visually impaired and sighted attendees—and evaluates the exhibition's overall effectiveness.
Overview of the Special Exhibition
The exhibition primarily featured hands-on displays created using 3D printing technology. Tactile models, including celestial bodies, spacecraft, and a planetarium projector, allowed visitors to explore shapes through touch. To engage multiple senses, some exhibits incorporated interactive elements: visitors could lift apple-shaped models weighted to reflect each planet's surface gravity or walk distances corresponding to the Sun-to-planet spacing for comparison. Additionally, genuine materials—such as meteorites and a planetarium control panel—were displayed. Braille captions accompanied all exhibits, while explanatory texts were available in both standard print and Braille, hung on walls for easy access. Guided tours, led by museum staff, were offered by reservation. To the museum's knowledge, a total of 33 visually impaired visitors attended the exhibition.
Questionnaire Results and Visitor Observations
A total of 153 questionnaires were collected, including nine from visitors with visual impairments and 162 from those presumed to be sighted. On a five-point satisfaction scale (“very satisfied,” “somewhat satisfied,” “neutral,” “somewhat dissatisfied,” “very dissatisfied”), 67% of respondents indicated they were “very satisfied,” while 21% were “somewhat satisfied.” When respondents were asked to identify the most interesting exhibits, “experiencing planetary gravity“ ranked highest, followed by “planetary distances,” “planetary models,” “black hole and nebula models,” “meteorites,” “rocket/probe/satellite models,” and the “planetarium control panel.” In open-ended comments, several respondents noted that the exhibition was enjoyable regardless of visual ability. Many also highlighted that relying on touch allowed for a more detailed examination of exhibits, which might otherwise be obscured by shadows when relying solely on sight. Of the nine visually impaired respondents, eight reported being “very satisfied,” while one indicated “neutral.”
Compared to sighted attendees, visually impaired visitors who participated in the reserved guided tours tended to spend more time touching and examining each exhibit, sometimes staying for over an hour. They appeared particularly impressed by the exhibits comparing planetary sizes and distances, as well as the planetary gravity experience. Overall, the majority of visually impaired visitors explicitly described the exhibition as “fun.”
Discussion
Based on the questionnaire results and visitor observations, this special exhibition provided a meaningful experience for individuals regardless of visual ability. The ranking of the “most interesting” exhibits suggests that interactive, physically engaging experiences may be more impactful than purely tactile exploration, especially for sighted visitors. Additionally, the equal popularity of real artifacts and astronomical models indicates that authentic objects are not necessarily perceived as more valuable or meaningful than models. Finally, the positive feedback on the reserved guided tours suggests that they are an effective approach to enhancing visitor engagement.