Facilitating Accessibility: A Study on Innovative Didactic Materials to Generate Emotional Interactions with Pictorial Art

Abstract

This research has been undertaken to establish criteria for the construction of didactic materials to be experienced through touch (using a three-dimensional model) and hearing (through the provision of an audio description of the chosen painting) to provide learning and emotions. Eleven experts examined the didactic tools in which the scene of the painting had been depicted, through the use of white plastic figures modeled using a 3D printer. The models had been positioned to accurately correspond with the reference painting, with an explanatory narration supplied as an audio recording. Each of the experts involved were asked the same open questions in interviews that were audio-recorded and later transcribed. This feedback was analyzed and eleven concerns for consideration were determined: 1. How the figures felt to touch 2. Modeling and placement of the figure, 3. Position of the character, 4. Size, 5. The accurate 3D depiction of the 2D image, 6. Perspectives or visual points of view of the scene, 7. Enough representation of the painting in the model, 8. Distribution of visual components within the scene, 9. Perceptual appraisals, 10. Size of the model, 11. Touch of the whole model. The results indicated that the size of the model and the figurines was appropriate for their function. The figurines felt pleasant to handle and adequately described the postures and placement. Suggestions for further improvements were including more figurines in the model and adding color (omitted in the test model) to belong an inclusive design.