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| ▲ This photo, provided by the National Museum of Korea, shows an avatar using sign language. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by the National Museum of Korea, shows a braille keyboard. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Mar. 13 (Yonhap) -- The National Museum of Korea has launched a brand-new service “Barrier-Free Smart Exhibition Hall” to help vulnerable cultural groups such as those with visual and hearing disabilities to readily visit and enjoy the Museum.
The service, released on Monday, has been developed to help visitors with disabilities to more easily and conveniently enjoy the Museum by adding necessary aid functions according to the type of disability. Visitors may use the service either at a kiosk or via the Museum’s mobile app.
A total of four kiosks have been installed for visitors: Two on the first floor and one each on the second and third floors.
AI-based voice guidance will also be available, along with a braille keyboard for the visually impaired. The elderly or people with low vision and visual impairment may check out necessary information with enlarged letters.
The kiosk will also adjust its own height with an automatic sensor so that even people in wheelchairs can easily use it. Those with hearing disabilities can use sign language services.
“When a visitor with a hearing disability asks a question in sign language, an avatar who can read sign language will be answering the question also in sign language,” an official from the Museum said.
The sign language search service is currently in its early stages of development, and the Museum will continue to further update and develop its functions. Services that kiosks provide can also be connected to visitors’ personal cell phones: A QR code that appears on the kiosk’s screen will automatically connect the booth to the Museum’s exhibition information app for visitors to get access to information such as recommended routes and explanations of the displayed monuments.
The National Museum of Korea is also planning to install this barrier-free smart exhibition hall service at its affiliated museums.
The Museum said, “We will install and provide our new service at the Gyeongju National Museum, Gwangju National Museum, and Buyeo National Museum starting next year.”
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)
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