The LightSound Project began in 2017 as a way to make solar eclipses accessible to the blind and low-vision (BLV) community. LightSound is a low-cost, smartphone-size device that uses Arduino technology to convert light intensity to sound, giving BLV people another way to engage with an eclipse. During the 2017 eclipse, we deployed 3 devices to stream sound online for people around the globe and collect data for later analysis. The project received an IAU100 Special Projects grant to build and distribute 20 devices across Chile and Argentina for the 2019 Solar Eclipse. In preparation, we redesigned the device with a new sensor and sonification method. We also developed English and Spanish documentation and open-source software for people to build and use the device and collect/plot data. The project was a success, with tens of thousands of people attending events with LightSound devices. The devices were reused or redistributed for the 2020 South American eclipse. A grant from Chilean colleagues helped build and deploy over 100 more devices across Chile.
This proposal builds on the success and momentum of past eclipses. The 2023 annular eclipse will go through the USA, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America, and the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse will cross Mexico, the entire USA, and eastern Canada, reaching millions of people.
Our project has three goals:
1. Host a large workshop to build LightSound devices, open to educators, National Park rangers, and event organizers who wish to learn how to build and use the devices.
2. Distribute 100 LightSounds (at no cost) to communities, National Parks, museums, schools, etc., that will host accessible events and partner with organizations that serve BLV individuals (e.g., schools for the blind) and provide documentation on using the devices.
3. Maintain a website with documentation on building and using LightSounds. Track device locations and collect photos/videos/eclipse data from sites for later analysis.
Activities
In total, this project held 8 workshops to train participants to solder and build LightSound devices. These events were held at museums, maker spaces, and Universities and open to the pubic. Specifically with the OAD funding, we held 1 workshop at the University of Arizona with TIMESTEP (Tucson Initiative for Minoritized student Engagement in Science and TEchnology Program) students. It was a 1 day program where we taught 20 students how to solder while building the LightSound devices.
Outcomes
LightSound devices – we built and donated 102 devices (from this funding) through workshop events (and 900 devices in total from all funding). These devices impacted 100s of thousands of people at events all across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. These 900 devices built allowed community events, and targeted events for the blind and low-vision, a way to engage in an eclipse through sound. This made events more inclusive.
LightSound workshops – workshops were run to build devices. Participants did not need any previous experience. It was a learning experience for them and a way for us to engage communities while building devices to be donated back to the communities. Several hundred people participated in the workshops. These workshops allowed people – from school aged to seniors – a way to learn how to solder and build devices. People were happy to volunteer their time to help build devices that were getting donated back into their communities.
LightSound website – we redesigned our website to ensure accessibility (screen reader capable, language availability, and alt-text). It was important to make sure that our materials were able accessible to those communities that were engaging in the eclipse. We also made sure that our newly redesigned website was screen reader friendly with appropriate alternative text for blind or low-vision users.
LightSound documentation – The eclipse path crossed the United States, and parts of Canada and Mexico, where the primary languages spoke are English, Spanish, and French. Our documentation existed in English and Spanish, but we did have the documentation translated to French for this eclipse
LightSound recordings – we held multiple Question and Answer zoom sessions and created flyers for LightSound users to engage with. We wanted to ensure that LightSound users understood how to use the device correctly. Along with online documentation, we held zoom questions and answers which allowed a time for people to ask questions. We also just provided a general overview of best practices and uses. These were recorded.
LightSound live stream – we partnered with the American Council for the Blind to host a live stream event during the total solar eclipse. The live stream event was recorded as well and is available at the top of our website. It was live attended by several thousand people. In the recording you can hear feedback at the end of people’s reaction to the event.
