Installed on December 18th, 2024, the interactive audio-tactile panel representing a section of Raffaello Sanzio’s preparatory cartoon for The School of Athens, recently restored, is now located in the exhibition hall and enhances the experiencing of the artwork displayed at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan. This innovation was designed to make great works of art accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals. The installation is the result of a collaboration between Politecnico di Milano, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, and the National Association of the Visually Impaired, serving as a tangible example of how technology can promote cultural inclusivity.
The panel was created following the guidelines of the DescriVedendo method, a system that produces certified morphological descriptions to make artworks accessible to those who cannot see them. It incorporates research results from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Politecnico di Milano. The “Beyond Seeing” project is part of the Cultura Meccanica® initiatives and aims to establish criteria for creating interactive audio-tactile panels that offer a multisensory experience. It overcomes visual barriers and allows everyone to connect with art by utilising touch and hearing.
This masterpiece was chosen for its historical and artistic value and because a portion of it is featured in the Politecnico di Milano's logo, specifically the section depicting Euclid surrounded by his students as he draws with a compass. The highly detailed and complex scene required an in-depth study to be translated into a tactile relief model comprehensible through touch. The project overcame numerous technical challenges, such as representing the perspective depth, the characters' postures, and anatomical details—elements that overlap and interact in the original composition.
To address the challenges posed by the complexity of the work, the panel combines tactile reliefs with an interactive audio guide. Each tactile detail features a corresponding button that, when pressed, activates an audio file with a clear and detailed description, enabling autonomous exploration of the artwork. This audio-tactile system ensures a comprehensive understanding of the scene, offering a unique immersive experience.
The validation process, which directly involved blind and visually impaired individuals of various ages, allowed the refinement of both the tactile and audio components, improving synchronisation and optimising the experience for users with different needs. Results demonstrated that the combination of hearing and touch is particularly effective for understanding works of art, highlighting significant differences in interaction depending on users' ages and prior experiences.
For 2025, the Beyond Seeing project aims to create two additional interactive audio-tactile panels, selecting works that represent diverse styles and historical contexts. The selection will be made in collaboration with interested museums and foundations, broadening the accessible artistic heritage and further refining the design guidelines for inclusive tools. This initiative marks an important step towards universal inclusion and accessibility in the art world, demonstrating how advanced technologies and a socially responsible design approach can transform cultural experiences and make them truly accessible to all.
