Short answer

When designing assistive technologies for museums, involve museum staff and consider the museum's environment as active participants in the design process, not just the end-users with disabilities.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Journal of Enabling Technologies (2020)
Method: Systematized literature review and thematic analysis.
Sample: 8 papers were analyzed in detail from an initial screening of 294.
Evidence: Moderate effect

Designing accessible museum technologies requires a participatory approach that extends beyond end-users to actively involve museum personnel and consider the physical and social museum environment. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in Journal of Enabling Technologies. Using Systematized literature review and thematic analysis. with 8 papers were analyzed in detail from an initial screening of 294., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing assistive technologies for museums, involve museum staff and consider the museum's environment as active participants in the design process, not just the end-users with disabilities.

Study

User-Centred DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Broaden 'Participation' in Design to Include Museum Staff and Spaces for Enhanced Accessibility

Designing accessible museum technologies requires a participatory approach that extends beyond end-users to actively involve museum personnel and consider the physical and social museum environment.

Journal of Enabling Technologies · 2020

Key Findings

01Accessibility has nuanced meanings influenced by social values.
02The attractiveness of a technology is important for its real-life usability.
03The concept of participation should extend beyond end-users to include museum personnel and the museum environment itself.

Application

Design takeaway

When designing assistive technologies for museums, involve museum staff and consider the museum's environment as active participants in the design process, not just the end-users with disabilities.

How to apply

Before commencing a design project for museum accessibility, conduct stakeholder interviews with a diverse group including potential users, museum educators, accessibility officers, and visitor services staff.

Project actions

01Clearly define your target user group, but also identify other key stakeholders within the context of your design project.
02When conducting user research, consider how the physical and social environment might impact the use of your design.

Method & Evidence

AimTo explore the extent and nature of participatory research in the development of assistive technologies for museum accessibility, particularly for individuals with sensory impairments or learning disabilities.

MethodSystematized literature review and thematic analysis.

ProcedureA comprehensive search of research papers was conducted, followed by a detailed thematic analysis of a selected subset to identify key themes related to accessibility and participation in museum technology design.

Sample8 papers were analyzed in detail from an initial screening of 294.

ContextMuseums and heritage sites, focusing on assistive technologies for individuals with sensory impairments or learning disabilities.

Variables

IVInclusion of diverse stakeholders (end-users, museum staff) in the design process.

DVEffectiveness and usability of museum accessibility technologies.

CVType of disability (sensory impairment, learning disability), museum type, specific technology being developed.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Systematic approach to literature review ensures comprehensive coverage of existing research.
+Thematic analysis provides a structured method for identifying key insights.

Limitations

The findings are based on a literature review, which may not capture all current practices. The specific context of different museums can vary significantly.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the findings depends on the quality and consistency of the reviewed studies. Validity is enhanced by the systematic review process and thematic analysis, but is limited by the scope of the literature.

Think critically

How might the 'attractiveness' of a technology influence its adoption and usability for individuals with learning disabilities, and what design strategies can address this?

Design Principles

"Inclusive design requires a holistic understanding of the ecosystem in which a product will be used, involving all relevant stakeholders."

This perspective shift is crucial for creating truly inclusive and usable assistive technologies. By engaging a wider range of stakeholders, designers can better understand the practical constraints and opportunities within the museum setting, leading to more effective and integrated solutions.

What This Means for Your Design

When making museum tech for people with disabilities, don't just ask the disabled people what they want; also ask the museum workers and think about how the tech will fit into the museum itself.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of stakeholder analysis and contextual research in your design project's methodology section.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research underscores the necessity of a broad participatory approach in design, advocating for the inclusion of museum personnel and the physical/social environment alongside end-users to ensure the effectiveness and integration of assistive technologies.

Source

Journal of Enabling Technologies

Designing technologies for museums: accessibility and participation issues

journal · 2020

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about broaden 'participation' in design to include museum staff and spaces for enhanced accessibility?: When designing assistive technologies for museums, involve museum staff and consider the museum's environment as active participants in the design process, not just the end-users with disabilities. Evidence: Journal of Enabling Technologies (2020).
Why does "Broaden 'Participation' in Design to Include Museum Staff and Spaces for Enhanced Accessibility" matter for design?: This perspective shift is crucial for creating truly inclusive and usable assistive technologies. By engaging a wider range of stakeholders, designers can better understand the practical constraints and opportunities within the museum setting, leading to more effective and integrated solutions.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing assistive technologies for museums, involve museum staff and consider the museum's environment as active participants in the design process, not just the end-users with disabilities.
What were the main findings?: Accessibility has nuanced meanings influenced by social values.. The attractiveness of a technology is important for its real-life usability.. The concept of participation should extend beyond end-users to include museum personnel and the museum environment itself.
What research method was used?: Systematized literature review and thematic analysis. with 8 papers were analyzed in detail from an initial screening of 294..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2020 journal from Journal of Enabling Technologies.
What should I do differently in my next project?: Before commencing a design project for museum accessibility, conduct stakeholder interviews with a diverse group including potential users, museum educators, accessibility officers, and visitor services staff.
What are the limitations?: The review focused on published research, potentially missing innovative practices not yet documented. The definition of 'participation' can vary, and the analysis is based on the interpretation of the reviewed literature.