Design of a multisensory planetarium

Abstract

We present the design and the prototype of a multisensory planetarium. The goal of this project is to offer a common perceptual and cognitive framework to all users, both sighted, deaf, and blind or visually impaired, concerning the experience of observing the night sky, but also to provide all equal access to scientific data regarding the observed objects, going beyond what can be sensed. The planetarium will consist of a Plexiglas hemisphere on which stars up to the fourth magnitude are represented by a brass bar that, when touched, activates visual, haptic, and acoustic stimuli. We mapped the magnitude of stars on acoustic and visual stimuli, while the distance of the star from us is mapped on a vibration. All the stimuli have been evaluated in pilot experiments using Plexiglas tablets representing some constellations, to assess their usability, intelligibility, and consistency with possible intuitive interpretations.