A group at Harvard is hoping their Midas Touch project will enable blind people to appreciate art. The project will convert 2D artwork, such as a painting, into a 3D shape. The 3D shape can then be explored with touch by the blind to gain an understanding of that piece.
At this point the “Midas Touch” is only an idea, but the founders have apparently secured some level of funding.
We’re wondering how successful this project could be, given that visual subtleties are often difficult for sighted people to comprehend, let alone those exploring by touch, who could receive a very different impression of the work. Nevertheless, it is definitely a worthy experiment that should be undertaken.
Via VentureBeat
