Those who aren’t able to see will be able to interact with the History Museum on the Square in a whole new way.
The museum, located at 154 Park Central Square, introduced a digital signage system, NaviLens, on the first floor of the museum, according to a March 7 press release. NaviLens’ markers revolutionize the museum experience for the vision-impaired by giving them access to content in adaptive formats.
NaviLens markers give access to audio descriptions, multimedia and sign language videos, giving the vision-impaired greater access to installations. NaviLens facilitates guided tours with voice instruction and offers content in 33 languages, according to the release.
“We invite everyone to experience the transformative impact of NaviLens markers firsthand at our museum,” Sean FitzGibbons, executive director of the museum, wrote in the release. “We believe that investing in accessibility not only enriches the museum experience but also ensures that the stories of Springfield’s crossroads are accessible to all visitors.”
By introducing NaviLens, the History Museum on the Square aims to showcase the effectiveness of the technology. NaviLens markers will be added to installations that feature videos with subtitles, artifact panels and interactive displays.
Currently, there are nine active NaviLens QR codes in the museum, said Business Manager Charlotte McCoy. The museum has worked with Mary’s Braille International, a braille transcription services company, to establish the NaviLens QR codes.
With the support of grant funding or sponsorship, the museum aims to add NaviLens markers to panels and artifacts currently inaccessible to the visually-impaired or those who do not read English. There is no timeline on the program expansion, but the museum is actively looking for grants, sponsorships and business partners to fund the expansion, McCoy said.
“Together, let’s make history accessible to everyone,” the company said in the press release.
