More often than not, the phrase 'put yourself in their shoes' is more figurative than literal, but the Dialogue in the Dark experiential installation encourages the latter. Purported to raise awareness for the visually impaired, it allows visitors to experience at least one hour completely without sight.
Held at the South Street Seaport and created by Lighthouse International, the Dialogue in the Dark exhibit equips participants with a walking stick and a guide, who is either entirely blind or visually impaired. They are taken through sets that mimic iconic New York landmarks such as Central Park, Fairway supermarket, the subway and even Times Square. With the sense of sight taken from them, they experience these areas in a new light, allowing their other sense to take over.
Blind-Simulating Installations
The Dialogue in the Dark Tour Takes Away People's Sense of Sight
Trend Themes
1. Blind-simulating Installations - Opportunity for creating immersive sensory experiences that raise awareness and empathy for the visually impaired.
2. Experiential Awareness Campaigns - Potential for businesses to create interactive installations that give participants a unique perspective on social issues.
3. Multi-sensory Tourism - Emerging trend of creating tourist attractions that engage multiple senses, offering unique and memorable experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Education and Training - Disruptive innovation opportunity lies in developing blind-simulating installations as a learning tool for empathy training programs.
2. Tourism and Hospitality - Opportunity to create blind-simulating tourist attractions that offer a novel and inclusive experience for travelers.
3. Nonprofit and Social Impact - Potential for nonprofit organizations to use blind-simulating installations as a powerful tool for raising awareness and funding.