PING! Project

The intent of the PING! project was to implement and test a new approach to make public exhibit spaces, like science museums, more accessible to visitors who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled.  The projects end goal is for visitors to an exhibit to be able to independently navigate through by locating a sound to navigate towards. The Noise and Vibrations Laboratory here at Western Michigan University part in the project is as follows.

The first testing was done in the reverberation chamber in the lab to determine what sounds were both likeable and easily located. With an array of loudspeakers set up, participants (blind or any participant with any level of vision were blindfolded) were asked to localize sounds from a collection of one hundred seventy-five (175) sounds. There were twelve (12) sounds that were as being the best in the areas of likeability and localization.

Next the ability of a sound to be navigated was tested. In an open environment participants navigated to the twelve (12) previously selected sounds through the use of a remotely activated device. From these test it was determined that out of the twelve (12) sounds seven (7) were determined to be included in the PING! catalog for their navigability, localization, sound level and recognition. In addition to this the sounds were tested for vertical localization using the same procedure as the first testing but now with a set of loudspeakers positions higher to the ceiling of the reverberation chamber. All sounds passed these tests.

The final stage of the PING! project was to design and select an overhead mounting system to be installed in the track lighting that already exists in the New York Hall of Science. Testing was performed the laboratories anechoic chamber to determine the best loudspeaker/lining combination design. The components found to provide the truest sound reproduction for the sounds previously found were used in the manufacturing of the loudspeaker housings that will be used in the exhibit.

Research was done in conjunction with Tough Graphics.

Setup used for testing of loudspeakers inside the reverberation chamber.

Constructed beacon (housing for loudspeaker) to be installed in museum exhibit.

Internal view of beacon.