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Mad Systems’ QuickSilver solution improves accessibility

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The company’s technology allows for full inclusion of all visitors

Mad Systems Inc., the award-winning audiovisual and interactive system designer and integrator, is addressing accessibility requirements, both with its QuickSilver® system and with other cutting-edge technology developments.

Attractions need to think about providing more than just the bare minimum or ticking a box in order to make their venues truly accessible. And Mad Systems makes this easy, with video servers that can deliver subtitles or audio language changes on demand, possibilities to create high contrast media or interactives, and methods to increase or decrease audio volume.

Accessibility made easy

“It is always possible to make sure that we include visitors that need a little extra help to optimize their visit,” says Maris Ensing, the founder of Mad Systems.

“With a flexible next-gen AV++® solution such as QuickSilver, the additional work involved is not that much. All we need is to know that we need to provide a specific solution for a given visitor, and that can be achieved once we recognize the presence of a visitor that has asked for specific assistance using RFID, NFC, barcodes, QR codes or our patented facial recognition or colour recognition technologies.”

Mad System’s interactives can easily be designed to put buttons on touchscreen interactives in accessible locations for visitors who need them, and thanks to its latest solutions, the controls for interactives can be anywhere on a screen, so they can be located in an optimal location for specific visitors.

The company’s touchless touchscreen technology can even help visitors reach anywhere on a screen using nothing but facial movement, or to use a touchless button to select the right mode for them.

New solutions in development

Mad System is also developing its new Caterpillar solution, a guidance system for visually impaired visitors who use a cane. Once a visitor with a cane is detected, the system tells the visitor to listen to audible cues as to where to go next. Once they arrive at the location of that exhibit, the system will detect the cane and run an audio track to explain what this exhibit is about, and then provide guidance to the next location.

Additional options could include guidance to the gallery or museum exit, or to a restroom.

Furthermore, Mad Systems is also working on integrating an electronic braille reader into the QuickSilver system. This can be mounted to a reading rail, or integrated into the Dormouse tour guide system.

“The technology is here to make sure that we can provide assistance like never before,” says Ensing. “One thing that is essential is to get the word out that all of these things are possible, and to ensure that the designers who spearhead new exhibits know that integration of these new AV features should no longer be regarded as extra-ordinary or out of reach.

“Designs need to be done to integrate this new technology as a matter of course so that all of our new venues allow for full integration and inclusion of all of our visitors right from the very beginning.”

In January, Mad Systems welcomed AV and interactives professional, Toni Losier, to its Business Development team. Losier first joined Mad Systems in July 2020, bringing more than two decades of experience in the AV industry with her.

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charlotte coates

Charlotte Coates

Charlotte Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.

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