Cultural Heritage Digitization – Inclusive Process

Dejan Maslikovic

Review of the National Center for Digitization, Tome 28 (2016) no. 1.

Résumé

Physical accessibility of public buildings in Serbia is regulated by a series of laws and by-laws that are not being fully implemented. Contents of institutions therefore remain inaccessible for persons with disabilities, that make up about 10% of the population. However, the presentation of cultural heritage is no longer determined by space in which it is exposed, physical presence at the exhibition or the number of exhibits that may be displayed. Through digital technology it is possible to bridge the physical inaccessibility. The only condition is to take into account the reduction of the digital gap between those for whom digital technology is available to those to whom it is not. When we talk about people with disabilities, this effect has cumulative effect. This population is already marginalized because of a physical barriers due to poverty, poor education and general social status and digital technology is not accessible to them. The modern development of information and communication technology made digital content available to the general society in a growing number of devices and with the support of a growing number of software and applications. During the digitization of cultural heritage, it is necessary to take into account standards of universal design and universal access, and to provide availability of the digitized materials to persons with disabilities.