Inclusive VR experiences for visually impaired people: making an accessible XR

Hailey Austin; Lynsay Shepherd; Naman Merchant; William Kavanagh

Abstract

The use of extended reality (XR) game technologies is rising, creating increasingly immersive experiences. People with visual impairments are often interested in accessing museums, galleries, libraries and archives (Asakawa et al. 2018). However, people with visual impairments are often unable to do so because of challenges related to access, navigation in the buildings and difficulties accessing artwork or other offerings (Ahmetovic et al. 2021; Asakawa et al. 2018). Limited consideration of inclusive design in GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) environments often renders these experiences and exhibitions inaccessible for people with visual impairments (PVI).

Original language	English
Number of pages	1
Publication status	Published - 23 Oct 2025
Event	Zip-Scene Conference 2025: Hunting for Attention: Interactive Digital Storytelling in Fragmented Attention Landscapes - DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague, Czech Republic Duration: 23 Oct 2025 → 25 Oct 2025 Conference number: 7th https://conf.zip-scene.com/

Conference

Conference	Zip-Scene Conference 2025
Country/Territory	Czech Republic
City	Prague
Period	23/10/25 → 25/10/25
Internet address	https://conf.zip-scene.com/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

Austin_InclusiveVRExperiences_Accepted_2025Accepted author manuscript, 376 KB

2 Commissioned report
1 Software

Rhizoma VR - RNIB XR Toolkit Edition
Shepherd, L. A. (Designer), Merchant, N. (Developer), Austin, H. J. (Designer) & Kavanagh, W. (Designer), 1 Dec 2025
Research output: Non-textual form › Software

Open Access
File
XR accessibility insights and toolkit: gaming sector report
Shepherd, L., Austin, H., Kavanagh, W. & Merchant, N., 1 Dec 2025, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). 77 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report

Open Access
XR accessibility insights and toolkit: GLAM sector report
Shepherd, L., Austin, H., Kavanagh, W. & Merchant, N., 1 Dec 2025, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). 71 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report

Open Access

Cite this

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title = "Inclusive VR experiences for visually impaired people: making an accessible XR",

abstract = "The use of extended reality (XR) game technologies is rising, creating increasingly immersive experiences. People with visual impairments are often interested in accessing museums, galleries, libraries and archives (Asakawa et al. 2018). However, people with visual impairments are often unable to do so because of challenges related to access, navigation in the buildings and difficulties accessing artwork or other offerings (Ahmetovic et al. 2021; Asakawa et al. 2018). Limited consideration of inclusive design in GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) environments often renders these experiences and exhibitions inaccessible for people with visual impairments (PVI).",

author = "Hailey Austin and Lynsay Shepherd and Naman Merchant and William Kavanagh",

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T1 - Inclusive VR experiences for visually impaired people

T2 - Zip-Scene Conference 2025

AU - Austin, Hailey

AU - Shepherd, Lynsay

AU - Merchant, Naman

AU - Kavanagh, William

N1 - Conference code: 7th

PY - 2025/10/23

Y1 - 2025/10/23

N2 - The use of extended reality (XR) game technologies is rising, creating increasingly immersive experiences. People with visual impairments are often interested in accessing museums, galleries, libraries and archives (Asakawa et al. 2018). However, people with visual impairments are often unable to do so because of challenges related to access, navigation in the buildings and difficulties accessing artwork or other offerings (Ahmetovic et al. 2021; Asakawa et al. 2018). Limited consideration of inclusive design in GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) environments often renders these experiences and exhibitions inaccessible for people with visual impairments (PVI).

AB - The use of extended reality (XR) game technologies is rising, creating increasingly immersive experiences. People with visual impairments are often interested in accessing museums, galleries, libraries and archives (Asakawa et al. 2018). However, people with visual impairments are often unable to do so because of challenges related to access, navigation in the buildings and difficulties accessing artwork or other offerings (Ahmetovic et al. 2021; Asakawa et al. 2018). Limited consideration of inclusive design in GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) environments often renders these experiences and exhibitions inaccessible for people with visual impairments (PVI).

M3 - Abstract

Y2 - 23 October 2025 through 25 October 2025

ER -

Inclusive VR experiences for visually impaired people: making an accessible XR

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Rhizoma VR - RNIB XR Toolkit Edition

XR accessibility insights and toolkit: gaming sector report

XR accessibility insights and toolkit: GLAM sector report

Cite this