Testing interactive exhibits on a desktop monitor misses critical physical constraints. I originally built a custom progressive web app to solve this problem during the Ellis Island museum overhaul. Today I am releasing it publicly so other teams can evaluate physical and digital accessibility directly on the gallery floor.
The physical reality
Designing for public spaces requires a complete view of the environment. A software interface might pass every WCAG check in a studio but fail entirely once installed. Ambient glare or an incorrect mounting height routinely breaks the experience for disabled visitors.
The app is designed specifically for field use on mobile devices, guiding auditors through both hardware and software checks:
- Measuring wheelchair clearance and control heights against Section 508 physical limits.
- Recording software contrast failures alongside environmental factors like ambient lighting.
Catching these physical realities early helps product teams fix usability blockers before costly hardware fabrication begins. You can try the tool on your next site visit.
[Link: Open the kiosk audit tool]