Abstract

At present, people with sensory disabilities may not have equal access to the contents exhibited in a museum: for example a blind person can’t access to a painting or to the information panels, as well as a deaf person can’t pay attention to the verbal explanations in a guide, or to the voiceover of projected videos. in addition to this, we’ve to consider the difficulty that represents having to move through the different rooms, or keeping in touch with the museum staff for assistance. Museums, as cultural institutions, have entrusted the task of the preservation and the spreading of the cultural heritage for all, providing both physical and intellectual access. The GVAM project aims to create an ICT solution through a portable device that is fully accessible and interactive, allowing its use by people with or without disabilities. The first prototype is based on three approaches: - Software for the global management of all the multimedia and interactive content. - Portable device with a high degree of flexibility, implemented with an easy navigation and configuration, towards a universal accessibility. - High accuracy positioning system and wireless connectivity networks. In turn, GVAM also raised as a priority objective the development of a Best Practices Guide, as a key component to ensure that these guides comply from now on with the requirements of the Universal Design.