Economica
The Economia Institute is a Vienna-based, truly independent non-profit academic research organisation. Economica executes economic research in applications, operations and programs both nationally and transnationally and focuses its analysis on the innovative design of economic structural changes. Economica additionally focuses on cultural law and economics using an interdisciplinary Approach.
Contact/Project management: Mag. Ruth List
Manchester Museum
The Manchester Museum is the UK’s largest university museum, with some 4 million objects and specimens spanning both natural history and human cultures. It provides an important public facility and presents a rich and varied programme for schools, families and adults, which engages a broad audience representative of the population of the Manchester city region. The museum particularly prioritises groups that are harder to reach, such as those with health issues, long-term unemployed, socially disadvantaged and those with disabilities. It has a long-standing relationship working with Henshaws Society for Blind People in Manchester. The Museum has developed a reputation for innovative and experimental work distinctive to a university museum with a strong public engagement focus such as the development of the Probos Haptic interactive which allows visitors to virtually interact with treasured objects which are usually displayed within a case.
Contact: Samantha Sportun
Austrian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (BSVÖ)
The Austrian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted promotes the interests of about 318.000 Austrians being the largest self-help organisation of blind and partially sighted people. Together with seven regional chapters representing their members on a local level throughout Austria the BSVÖ is working for an inclusive and accessible society also beyond the country borders. Being a member of the European Blind Union (EBU) as well as of the World Blind Union (WBU) the BSVÖ is internationally well connected. With its Department for Accessible Construction, BSVÖ is working in the field of accessibility in all aspects of life, not merely restricted to the built environment but also in the cultural or virtual sphere.
Contact: Mag. Stefanie Steinbauer
German Association for Blind and Visually Impaired People (DBSV e.V.)
The German Association for Blind and Visually Impaired People (DBSV e.V.) is the leading association for the blind and partially sighted people in Germany. The association represents throughout the whole country the interests of approximately 645,000 blind and partially sighted people. The DBSV is the national umbrella organisation of 20 federations located in the federal states. Furthermore, the DBSV includes 35 nationwide nonprofit organizations as corporate members with specific responsibilities. The DBSV exclusively pursues charitable purposes with the idea of preservation and improvement of the social position of the blind and visually impaired people and promoting their self determination and their equivalent participation in the society. At the international level, we are an active member of the European Blind Union and the World Blind Union.
Contact: Reiner Delgado and Eva Cambeiro Andrade
Trnka n.o.
Trnka n.o is a non-profit organization based in Bratislava dedicated to the research and production of audio description of audiovisual works for blind and partially sighted people. Furthermore, Trnka, n.o. seeks to contribute to the cultural education of disadvantaged groups from early childhood on, not only through the audio commentary, but also through special educational programs focusing on 3D haptic aids.
Contact: Mgr. Art. Karol Trnka, Mgr. Petra Pobežalová and Ing. Vladimír Maroš
Österreichische Galerie Belvedere
The Belvedere houses the most significant collection of Austrian Art from the Middle Ages to the Present, completed with works by international artists. The Upper Belvedere shows the worldwide biggest collection of paintings by Gustav Klimt that is a part of the collection „Fin de siècle“. The Upper as well as the Lower Belvedere are barrier-free accessible. Themed Nichts für Menschen mit Behinderung, ohne Menschen mit Behinderung (Not for people with disabilities, without people with diabilities) the Galerie Belvedere has developed barriere-free art education services in close cooperation with experts concerned. Berühren ausdrücklich erwünscht (Touching explicitly desired) is the motto of guided tours for blind and visually impaired visitors. In addition to the tactile impressions visitors are provided with detailed narrations of artists, working methods and objects which enables them to experience paintings and sculptures in a completely new way. The most preferred topics of the guided tours include the main work of Gustav Klimt: The Kiss and Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller. Furthermore, a new tactile model of the Upper Belvedere offers the opportunity to experience its composition and surface structure in a haptic way.
Contact: Mag. Brigitte Hauptner and Mag. Susanne Wögerbauer
Center for Virtual Reality and Visualisation (VRVis)
VRVis is internationally renowned and leading Austrian center for application oriented research in the area of Visual Computing. Visual Computing (Visualization, Rendering, Visual Analytics, Computer Vision and Virtual Reality) has grown to be a key technology in economy and society. The appealing presentation of ever increasing amounts of data and the creation of digital images of real objects makes it possible to efficiently deal with digital information and opens new research areas, production methods and workflows. Transfer of technology from science to industry is not just a word for VRVis, but its program. Next to a solid foundation in basic research, VRVis acts as a bridge between science and industry. It conducts applied research for a number of industry partners, leading to joint product development in various application areas.
Contact: Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Andreas Reichinger