Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
25 results found in museum accessibility.
- Art Accessibility (Artwork Accessibility, Cultural Accessibility)
- The practice of making visual art, museums, galleries, and cultural experiences accessible to people with disabilities. Art accessibility encompasses a range of approaches including tactile reproducti…
- Audio Description (AD, Descriptive Audio, Audio Narration)
- A narration track that describes visual elements of media, exhibitions, performances, or environments for people who are blind or have low vision. In museums, audio descriptions provide verbal account…
- Audio Guide (Audio Tour, Audio Description Tour, Museum Audio Guide)
- A portable or installed audio system that provides spoken descriptions, narratives, or contextual information about exhibits in a museum, gallery, or cultural venue. Audio guides range from traditiona…
- Braille Label (Braille Signage, Braille Tag)
- A label or sign that includes text in Braille to provide information to people who read Braille. In museums and public spaces, Braille labels are placed on exhibits, room signs, elevator buttons, and …
- Cross-Sensory Translation (Sensory Substitution, Sensory Translation, Cross-Modal Translation)
- The process of converting information from one sensory modality to another — for example, representing visual information through touch, sound, smell, or taste. In exhibition accessibility, cross-sens…
- Cultural Mediator (Museum Mediator, Cultural Facilitator)
- A professional who facilitates meaningful engagement between cultural institutions (such as museums, galleries, or heritage sites) and visitors, particularly those from diverse or marginalised backgro…
- Curator (Museum Curator, Exhibition Curator, Art Curator)
- A professional responsible for the selection, arrangement, interpretation, and presentation of works in museums, galleries, and exhibitions. The curatorial role has expanded from its original function…
- Embodied Learning (Embodied Cognition, Kinesthetic Learning)
- A learning approach that engages the whole body in the process of understanding, not just the mind. Embodied learning recognizes that physical movement, touch, spatial navigation, and bodily interacti…
- Informal Learning (Informal Education, Free-Choice Learning)
- Learning that occurs outside formal educational settings, driven by curiosity, personal interest, and voluntary engagement rather than structured curricula and assessments. Science museums, workshops,…
- Interactive 3D Printed Model (I3M, Interactive Tactile Model)
- A 3D printed physical object augmented with technology that provides audio or other non-visual feedback when users touch or interact with specific areas. These models combine the tangible spatial info…
- Multi-Fidelity Modeling (Multi-Fidelity Tactile Materials)
- A design strategy that provides tactile representations at multiple levels of detail and complexity to support layered learning and comprehension. In accessible museum and educational contexts, this m…
- Multi-Sensory Design (Multisensory Experience, Multi-Sensory Accessibility)
- Multi-sensory design is an approach to creating experiences, environments, or products that engage multiple senses—touch, hearing, smell, taste, and sight—rather than relying predominantly on vision. …
- Multisensory Experience (Multi-Sensory Experience, Multisensory Design)
- An experience designed to engage multiple senses simultaneously, including touch, hearing, smell, taste, and proprioception, rather than relying primarily on vision. In accessibility contexts, multise…
- Museum Accessibility (Accessible Museums)
- The practice of designing museum experiences, exhibitions, programs, and physical spaces to be inclusive and usable by visitors with disabilities. Museum accessibility encompasses physical access (ram…
- NFC Tag (Near Field Communication Tag, NFC)
- An NFC (Near Field Communication) tag is a small, unpowered chip that can transmit data to a compatible smartphone or device when held within a few centimeters. In accessibility contexts, NFC tags are…
- Navigation Robot (Guide Robot, Autonomous Navigation Robot)
- A robotic system designed to guide users through physical spaces, providing wayfinding assistance and contextual information. In museum contexts, navigation robots can lead visually impaired visitors …
- Science Communicator (SC, Museum Science Communicator)
- A trained staff member in a science museum whose role is to explain exhibits, demonstrate phenomena, and answer visitor questions. Science Communicators are central to several accessibility interventi…
- Science Museum (Science Center, Science Centre)
- An institution dedicated to informally communicating science to the public through interactive exhibits, multimedia displays, hands-on workshops, and themed experiences. Unlike traditional collection-…
- Slow Design
- Slow design is a design philosophy that emphasizes thoughtful, reflective, and sustained engagement over efficiency and speed. Inspired by the slow food movement, it values deeper contemplation, longe…
- Spatial Cognition (Spatial Understanding, Spatial Awareness)
- The mental processes involved in perceiving, storing, recalling, and reasoning about spatial relationships, layouts, and environments. Spatial cognition enables people to form mental maps, navigate th…