similar
technologies,
the
Peabody
Museum
could
create
a
projection
mapped
evolutionary
tree
that
grows
as
the
visitor
traverses
through
the
Hall
of
Human
Origins
or
transports
the
visitor
into
a
panoramic
New
England
farmland
from
the
Southern
New
England
Dioramas.
Navigation
and
Sound
Combining
Bluetooth
beacons
and
their
audio
tour
guide,
SFMOMA
developed
a
smart
audio
app
guide
that
customizes
the
narrative
based
on
the
user’s
location
and
preference.
The
app
can
also
acts
as
a
voice
direction
wayfinding
tool
that
helps
the
user
navigate
around
the
museum
without
pulling
out
their
phones.
Implementing
the
same
idea,
in
the
Hall
of
Connecticut
Birds,
a
handheld
audio
device
could
play
different
bird
calls
based
on
the
visitors
location
and
velocity.
In
addition,
there
are
researchers
at
the
Peabody
Museum
that
study
the
sound
of
the
bird’s
wings.
Incorporating
location-based
sound
system
in
the
Hall
of
Connecticut
Birds
may
be
an
innovative
way
to
showcase
ongoing
science
at
the
museum.
Accessibility
While
the
newest
technology
could
enhance
museum
experiences
to
exciting
realms
we
could
only
dream
of
in
the
past,
it
is
always
important
to
think
about
how
all
different
types
of
visitors
can
not
only
access
but
also
enjoy
the
same
exhibitions.
Museums
can
be
spaces
to
learn,
to
relax,
and
to
hang
out
with
family
and
friends,
and
they
provide
opportunities
that
should
be
available
to
people
with
physical,
mental,
and
developmental
disabilities.
Not
only
are
there
common
practices
to
make
museum
content
accessible,
there
are
also
new
technologies
and
various
programming
specifically
designed
to
improve
the
experiences
of
visitors
with
disabilities.
Architectural
Features
The
Americans
with
Disabilities
Act
of
1990
legally
requires
museums,
which
count
as
a
public
accomodation,
to
be
accessible
to
all
visitors,
as
a
failure
to
allow
individuals
access
to
the
space
is
considered
discrimination.18 19 The
aspect
of
accessibility
most
often
addressed
is
that
to
do
with
wheelchair
users.20 Like
most
buildings
open
to
the
public,
the
Peabody
Museum
has
ramps
and
elevators,(See
Fig.
4.1)
providing
access
to
all
parts
of
the
building
to
wheelchair
users.21 In
addition,
the
Peabody
has
a
small
number
of
wheelchairs
to
rent
free
of
charge.
These
features
not
only
benefit
those
with
physical
disabilities,
but
also
older
adults
who
may
find
stairs
difficult
to
use.
Considering
the
fact
that
the
Peabody’s
current
structure,
which
was
constructed
in
1925,22 was
not
originally
built
with
these
visitors
in
mind,
it
has
done
well
to
provide
resources
for
wheelchair
users.
However,
accessibility
programs
at
other
museums
have
more
creative
ways
to
accommodate
physically
disabled
visitors.
Many
of
these
spaces
were
specifically
built
to
have
a
universal
design,
a
design
that
benefits
all
people
whether
they
have
disabilities
or
not.23 The
Smithsonian
Institution
exhibit
excellent
examples
of
universal
design.
In
her
article
“Universal
Design
and
the
Museum,”
Dr.
Aimi
Hamraie
analyzes
“America
on
the
Move,”
a
transportation
exhibit
at
National
Museum
of
American
History.
She
points
out
the
universal
design
features
are
“seamlessly
integrated
into
the
design
of
the
exhibit
that
you
will
not
notice
them
unless
you
know
what
you
are
looking
for.”
These
include
subtle
ramps
leading
into
various
transportation
vehicles
on
display,
removed
seating
from
the
same
vehicles
to
allow
enough
space
to
enter,
and
wheelchair
space
in
the
front
row
of
the
theater.(See
Fig.
4.2)
In
addition,
museum
displays
and
interactive
elements
are
placed
at
a
height
and
angle
that
gives
access
to
wheelchair
users
and
young
children
as
well.
These
features
do
not
intrude
on
the
experience
of
other
visitors
and
may
benefit
them,
too.
With
the
Peabody’s
new
renovation,
there
are
many
opportunities
to
rethink
how
the
space
is
designed
for
every
visitor.
Additionally,
with
more
dynamic
exhibit
spaces,
it
is
increasingly
important
to
actively
consider
the
concept
of
universal
design.
Navigational
Tools
As
mentioned
in
previous
sections,
recent
technology
provides
many
new
and
exciting
possibilities
for
maps
and
navigation
tools.
This,
along
with
a
few
older
methods,
can
greatly
benefit
those
with
disabilities
or
those
who
do
not
read
the
language
of
the
museum.
Conventionally,
most
museums
have
wall-mounted
maps
and
directional
signs.
Some
provide
paper
maps
and
guides,
which
allow
for
variation
when
temporary
exhibits
change
or
special
events
occur.
These
maps
are
usually
created
with
the
average
visitor
in
mind.
However,
there
are
a
few
good
examples
of
how
navigational
tools
are
made
more
accessible.
While
many
museums
mark
wheelchair
accessible
entrances
and
routes
on
their
main
map,
The
Smithsonian
Institution
offers
a
variety
of
separate
maps
online
to
download
and
print
or
to
pick
up
at
information
desks.24 These
include
an
accessibility
map
that
detail
wheelchair
accessible
entrances,
curb
cuts,
paved
walkways,
and
designated
parking
spots
around
each
museum25 and
wheelchair
and
scooter
rental
information
within
and
around
the
museums.
This
is
most
likely
due
to
the
fact
that
the
Smithsonian
Institution
includes
multiple
separate
museums.
Even
so,
providing
maps
and
resources
specifically
designed
to
aid
people
with
physical
disabilities
can
make
them
less
cluttered
with
information
and
easier
to
use.
Museums
like
the
Metropolitan
Museum
of
Art
provide
maps
and
guides
in
many
other
languages.
By
doing
so,
these
museums
include
audiences
from
a
variety
of
places
and
cultures.
Two
years
ago,
after
its
rebrand,
the
Met
released
a
new
set
of
maps.(See
Fig.
4.3)
Along
with
this,
they
focussed
on
creating
and
equally
accessible
digital
version
using
Living
Map’s
software,
which
is
similar
to
Google
Maps
and
uses
text
labels
separate
from
the
map
image.26 Using
this
technology,
the
Met’s
digital
map
is
not
only
much
more
user-friendly
with
multiple
zoom
levels,
but
also
can
provide
translations
to
other
languages
in
a
much
easier
and
more
dynamic
way.
In
addition
to
navigation
tools
for
wheelchair
users
and
multilingual
visitors,
the
Smithsonian
and
many
large
museums
across
the
globe
also
offer
braille
or
large
print
maps
and
guides
for
blind
or
partially
sighted
visitors.27 These
not
only
can
help
these
visitors
navigate
the
museum
space,
but
also
can
often
provide
information
about
the
exhibit
that
they
would
not
be
able
to
read
from
labels
on
the
wall.
Some
museums
such
as
the