How might we use stereo and binaural spatial soundscapes through headphones to transform passive museum viewing into immersive, empathetic storytelling?
Many museum experiences still depend on visuals and long text panels, which often fail to hold visitors’ attention or capture the emotion behind historical stories. Research shows that most people only glance at wall text or skip it altogether, leading to a passive way of learning. This project reimagines how visitors connect with art and history through immersive spatial audio storytelling. By using stereo and binaural sound through headphones, visitors can experience events such as the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption as if they were really there. The project blends sound design, technology, and culture to turn viewing into feeling, helping people understand history on a deeper level. It also promotes accessibility and inclusivity, giving everyone the chance to experience storytelling beyond what can be seen.
Museums and memorials are not just collections of objects; they are places where collective memory, empathy, and identity are shaped. Yet, when history is presented only through static text and visuals, it often fails to create an emotional connection. Witcomb (2003) notes that this risks reducing sacrifices, traumas, and cultural narratives to abstractions, especially for younger audiences or those unfamiliar with the events.
Spatial audio helps close this gap by shifting visitors from passive viewers to active participants. Through immersive soundscapes, museums can recreate the sounds of a battlefield, a volcanic eruption, or everyday life in the past. These experiences combine intellect with emotion, deepening connection to history. Research confirms that multisensory environments improve memory and engagement, with sound playing a critical role in eliciting emotional responses (Lackey, 2016; Lind, 2019; Foley, 2020).
This also matters for inclusivity. For visitors who are neurodivergent, visually impaired, or who struggle with text-heavy displays, sound provides another way to engage (Smith & Doerr, 2017; Rinehart, 2016). Spatial audio therefore, supports inclusive design, ensuring museums serve diverse audiences fairly.
Finally, in a time where museums are under pressure to stay relevant and accessible, adopting spatial audio is not just an experimental design choice. It is an ethical and cultural responsibility. By enriching interpretation and helping people feel as well as learn history, spatial audio can safeguard memory for the future while making museum spaces more immersive, inclusive, and human (Proctor, 2010; Pine & Gilmore, 1999).
