"Let the Volcano Erupt!": Designing Sonification to Make Oceanography Accessible for Blind and Low Vision Students in Museum Environment

Exploring the potential of data sonification, our study focuses on enhancing accessibility to oceanographic data for blind and low vision (BLV) students in museums. Five auditory display prototypes with accompanying data sonifications were designed, and two prototypes underwent evaluation by testing with blind and low vision students from two schools for the blind. Through interviews and qualitative analysis, the study assessed the students' learning outcomes and their experience on the auditory display prototypes. The results demonstrate the effective conveyance of oceanography concepts and data through the developed audio display prototypes. Additionally, the study derived several design implications for future oceanographic data sonification design in museums. This research contributes to advancing the accessibility of oceanography education for visually impaired students while providing valuable insights for the design of future auditory displays in informal learning environments (ILE).