School of Arts and Creative Technologies
Jess Schofield
PhD by Research
Thesis
Thesis
Stories of the Stones: Accessible heritage experiences through augmented audio reality
Supervisor: Jude Brereton and Anna Bramwell-Dicks
This project investigates the use of immersive audio to create engaging and accessible heritage experiences. Partnered with York Museums Trust, the project will use St Mary’s Abbey, York as a case study. The abbey was once one of the most influential monasteries in the North of England. Today, hundreds of visitors (tourists and York residents alike) walk past the ruins in the Museum Gardens each day without noticing the building or understanding its significance.
An immersive audio experience of the abbey will be co-created with end users (York residents and people with lived experience of disability). Users will take part in the experience, either in-person at the ruins, or remotely. The experience will then be evaluated via surveys and interviews with users to compare the in-person and remote experience, and to assess the impact of the experience on visitors and on the abbey.
Biography
Biography
Jess Schofield (she/her) graduated with a BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering with Music Technology Systems (with a Year in Industry) from the University of York in 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the French Horn, choir singing, and performing live theatre.
Research
Research Interests
Spatial Audio, Augmented Reality, Accessibility, Heritage, Immersive Storytelling
