Many things have changed and improved in the years following the September 11th attacks, including airport security, media broadcasting, and the use of digital mapping technology. It’s especially interesting to see how digital mapping technology played a role in developing the 9/11 Memorial and Museum so that people from all over the world could explore the grounds of the museum, even those with vision impairments. Today I will be sharing how to explore the 9/11 Memorial and Museum using virtual reality and audio description. All of the resources provided here are available free of charge.
About the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum (also known as the 9/11 Memorial and Museum) is a memorial and museum in New York City that commemorates the September 11th attacks as well as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. It is located at the site of the former World Trade Center complex, with 110,000 square feet of museum space. The memorial was dedicated on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 in 2011, and the museum was opened to the public in mid-2014. Thousands of people visit the memorial and museum daily to learn more about the attacks and to remember the nearly 3000 victims and all those who risked their lives to save others.
What is virtual reality?
Virtual reality is known by many names, including 360 video, immersive video, spherical video, and augmented reality. Abbreviations include VR or AR. It allows a user to immerse themselves in a virtual environment using technology. Videos are shot with multidirectional cameras from every angle. They are then put together using a technique called video stitching. Virtual reality allows for a user to be completely immersed in an environment, while augmented reality allows for a blending of virtual reality and the real world.
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Downloading the audio tour
There are several different audio tours available for the 9/11 Museum. This includes an audio description tour specifically designed for the visually impaired, with audio tracks organized by exhibit. In order to access the audio tours, users must download the museum app and then download the app data after installing. I strongly recommend doing this over wifi because of the large file size. The app is VoiceOver and TalkBack compatible, so users can easily locate the audio description tour and play it as needed.
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The 9/11 Museum Virtual Tour
The 9/11 Museum has their own virtual tour on their website in video format. While users can’t interact with exhibits, they can see the inside of the museum and its layout as the slow-moving cameras glide down halls. This would be a great way to prepare for a virtual reality tour of the museum or to get an idea for what order to visit the exhibits in.
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Viewing select exhibits with Google Expeditions
While not all parts of the museum are available, select exhibits are available in the Google Expeditions app. I found that this app was perfect for viewing the art and photographs on the walls of the museum. This was especially true for the “In Memoriam” exhibit which has wall-to-wall photos of the victims. There are also text descriptions of the individual exhibits that are compatible with VoiceOver and Select-to-Speak. View the expedition by searching “9/11” in the Google Expeditions app.
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Additional exhibits with Google Maps
An additional virtual reality tour allows users to walk through the exhibit halls, though select areas are blurry. Luckily, the audio description guide fills in many of the gaps so that users can have a basic visual reference.
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Touring the memorial with Google Maps
Thanks to a partnership with Google Maps, users can get a 360-degree view of the 9/11 Memorial. Using their computer arrow keys or touch screen gestures, users can walk alongside the memorial. They can also zoom in to read the names engraved. The audio description tour is a perfect complement to the memorial. I found it fascinating to listen to the descriptions on my iPad as I navigated the tour on my computer.
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Locating other images
Virtual reality isn’t perfect, and sometimes users want to see a clear image of an artifact without worrying about moving. Thankfully, many high resolution images of museum displays are available on Google Images. Here are my recommended steps for finding the highest quality images:
- Begin each search with “9/11 Museum”
- Add the name of whatever artifact you are looking for, such as “fire truck”
- Go into search tools and select image size, then click large
- Alternatively, use the HD function
Users can also search for images from specific sources. Just type site: followed by the website they want to search for. This is a great way to find images that are guaranteed to have alt text.
Related links
- How To Make Historical Documents Accessible For Vision Impairment
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Users With Low Vision
- How To Run Effective Web Searches
Video to avoid
When searching for 360 videos of the 9/11 Museum, there was a recommendation called “08:46.” This video was NOT created by the 9/11 Museum and simulates the experience of someone inside the Twin Towers on 9/11. The simulation has been condemned as being “sick” and inappropriate, and should not be used as a way to learn more about 9/11, especially in a classroom setting.
Reflection
It’s amazing to see how many resources have been made available so that people can visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum from anywhere in the world. I am highly grateful for the efforts of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to not only ensure that their museum is accessible for people with vision impairments, but to preserve an important part of history for generations to come.
