Development of a Touchable Replica for Inclusive Experiences of Religious Artifacts

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to introduce a first inclusive experience in a conventional museum that so far only exhibits religious sculptures and its evaluation by blind and partially sighted persons. For this reason, it was decided to develop a multisensory experience aimed at blind and partially sighted people, taking advantage of the potential of new 3D scanning and printing technologies. The experience is centered on a touchable replica of the bust of the Cristo de la Sangre, a masterpiece of the Baroque highly revered in Murcia. The complete process of the development of the replica is shown, form design and manufacturing, both combining technology and tradition. Apart from touch sense, the experience incorporates detailed audio descriptions and smells, to provide valuable extra information. Also, radio mobile technologies such as beacons, are used for guiding purposes. Blind and partially sighted people play an active role in this project, both in the design and validation of the experiences.