Inclusivity and digital technologies in museums: lessons from an Italian experience

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper explores an emerging research field that considers both digital technologies and social inclusion to create a novel approach to museum management. It investigates the use of digital technologies for developing new services for people with disabilities in terms of the creation of museum inclusivity based on the case of the Museum of Geology and Paleontology located in Florence. The study analyses a special project consisting of a digital tour supported by a robot that allowed disabled people to visit the institution virtually from their homes. The results indicate that the quality of the visits and the experience were perceived by the visitors as completely real and not simply virtual; consequently, the results appear particularly promising when compared with other technologies such as virtual tours and augmented reality.