Accessibility and Technology: Remote Access to Art through Telepresence Robotics

Abstract

This capstone project details a proposal for a remote tour pilot program and community partnership written for the Art Institute of Chicago, Snow City Arts and the John H Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County. The proposal seeks to provide a model for remote accessibility to art museums for visitors with mobility disabilities. The pilot program utilizes telepresence technology as a tool for providing remote tours and for emulating the social benefits of a museum visit. Within the program, telepresence technology becomes a mechanism for communication and collaboration between the museum and members of the community, allowing individuals previously unable to visit to experience the collection and contribute to the museum’s interpretive narrative. The result is a reciprocal relationship between community and museum and a tangible project archived as digital content