IKBFU Student Tests Inclusive Museum Stickers

The Kaliningrad Regional Museum of History and Arts has launched the project "Virtual Routes: Experience the World Through Technology," which features tactile stickers with audio descriptions for visually impaired visitors.

When a smartphone touches a sticker with an NFC tag, it triggers not a standard audio guide but a detailed description of the exhibit — its colour, shape, composition, background details, and even small text on display cases. This means that a person with visual impairment is no longer a mere observer; they can actually "see" the exhibit and immerse themselves in the historical setting.

Maria Fedorovich, Third‑Year Psychology Student:
For the first time in my life, I wasn't just listening to a guided tour — I was truly exploring the exhibits with my fingertips. The audio description was so detailed that a complete picture emerged before my eyes: the colour, the shape, every little detail around me. Now, for me, a museum is not a dark room, but a space filled with images and emotions.

The main goal of the project is to make the museum accessible to every visitor, regardless of physical ability. The tactile stickers allow blind and visually impaired people to explore the exhibition independently and gain a vivid picture of what is on display.

The project was carried out by students from the Kaliningrad branch of the International Federation of the Blind (IFB) with the support of Rosmolodezh.Grants.