In this work we introduce NOBE (No OBstacle to EmotionÒ), a multi-sensory platform aiming to translate figurative and abstract works of art into parallel and simultaneous sensory media. NOBE arises from the project “The Roads of Art through Emotions” realized by the Centre for Rehabilitation, Integration and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities of the Vaccari Institute of Rome which led to the presentation of a multimedia exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome. The main purpose of the project was to allow everyone, with special attention to people with sensory and intellectual disabilities, to fully enjoy the aesthetic experience of visual art through different sense organs – vision, hearing, smell, and touch – in an interactive way. The NOBE multi-sensory platform is connected to an audio/video widescreen and is composed of three components: i) a tactile thermoformed relief of the work of art on a frame with infrared sensors which allow visitors to activate a voice, a sound, an image, or a short story aiming to evoke the synaesthetic experience of the artistic composition; ii) a vibrating membrane able to transmit sound pulses through tactile sense; iii) a tactile table containing materials and smells suggesting some relevant objects and essences of the painting. Next to each painting a corresponding accessible educational platform containing an introductive explanation of the work of art is also provided. The educational platform is composed of: i) a tactile transparent thermoformed relief superimposed on a print of the corresponding work of art; ii) a textual explanation superimposed on a Braille translation; iii) an audio/video screen showing the explanation of the artistic composition in both sign language and verbal language. In order to evaluate the user experience emerging during the interaction with visual art through the NOBE system, a questionnaire analysing the qualitative components of the interaction has been administered to people with and without disabilities. The qualitative results obtained through the questionnaires are shown here. This work introduces a new technology able to allow everyone – especially people with disabilities – to enjoy the aesthetic experience of perceiving and interacting with an artistic composition by means of multi-sensory patterns.
No OBstacle to Emotion (NOBE): an assistive technology for a multi-sensory experience of visual art
FEDERICI, Stefano;MELE, MARIA LAURA;
2011
Abstract
In this work we introduce NOBE (No OBstacle to EmotionÒ), a multi-sensory platform aiming to translate figurative and abstract works of art into parallel and simultaneous sensory media. NOBE arises from the project “The Roads of Art through Emotions” realized by the Centre for Rehabilitation, Integration and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities of the Vaccari Institute of Rome which led to the presentation of a multimedia exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome. The main purpose of the project was to allow everyone, with special attention to people with sensory and intellectual disabilities, to fully enjoy the aesthetic experience of visual art through different sense organs – vision, hearing, smell, and touch – in an interactive way. The NOBE multi-sensory platform is connected to an audio/video widescreen and is composed of three components: i) a tactile thermoformed relief of the work of art on a frame with infrared sensors which allow visitors to activate a voice, a sound, an image, or a short story aiming to evoke the synaesthetic experience of the artistic composition; ii) a vibrating membrane able to transmit sound pulses through tactile sense; iii) a tactile table containing materials and smells suggesting some relevant objects and essences of the painting. Next to each painting a corresponding accessible educational platform containing an introductive explanation of the work of art is also provided. The educational platform is composed of: i) a tactile transparent thermoformed relief superimposed on a print of the corresponding work of art; ii) a textual explanation superimposed on a Braille translation; iii) an audio/video screen showing the explanation of the artistic composition in both sign language and verbal language. In order to evaluate the user experience emerging during the interaction with visual art through the NOBE system, a questionnaire analysing the qualitative components of the interaction has been administered to people with and without disabilities. The qualitative results obtained through the questionnaires are shown here. This work introduces a new technology able to allow everyone – especially people with disabilities – to enjoy the aesthetic experience of perceiving and interacting with an artistic composition by means of multi-sensory patterns.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
