Accessible Design for Museums: A Systematic Review on Multisensory Experience Based on Digital Technology

In 2022, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) revised the definition of “museum,” emphasizing the significance of accessibility and inclusion in fostering museum diversity and sustainability. Sensory accessibility, however, still appears to be in its infancy compared to physical accessibility and a growing body of research focuses on advancing the use of multisensory experiences to improve sensory accessibility in museums. This paper aims to summarize a systematic review of digital technology-based multisensory experiences in museum accessibility for the visually impaired or blind, comparing the impact of different combinations of digital technology and multisensory on the accessibility of cultural information. This paper analyzes 39 papers on the intersection of museum accessibility design, multisensory interactions, and digital technologies through a systematic literature review. The results of the review describe the types of technologies that can be introduced to improve museum accessibility and the impact of different sensory combinations on the cultural experience of the visually impaired. Through comparative analysis, we found that multisensory experiences can effectively improve the understanding of cultural artifacts for people with visual impairments, especially the importance of translating information between the visual, auditory, and tactile senses. Finally, the research gaps identified in this literature review suggests the need for future research on assessment systems for museum accessibility, as well as the development of a framework for sensory translation and a systematic approach to designing accessible artifacts