A unique international museum experience, allowing people of all ages and abilities to “touch” priceless objects from around the world, has been unveiled.

STOKE-ON-TRENT, STAFFFORDSHIRE , UK, October 30, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A unique international virtual museum experience, which allows people of all ages and abilities to “touch” and learn about rare and priceless objects from around the world, has won a place at the UK’s top technological innovation showcase – Innovate UK 2017, at the National Exhibition Centre on 8th and 9th November.

The annual showcase of top cutting-edge ideas brings the brightest and boldest UK innovators together to inspire businesses, individuals and government to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

Gallezeum (The Touch and Discover Collection) enables everyone to access artworks from around the world at your finger tips, from the comfort and convenience of your local museum, library or college.

The brainchild of Stoke-on-Trent based artist, teacher and inventor Christopher Dean, it takes Virtual Reality into new realms of the senses. You don't just see ancient sculptures, contemporary vases and famous paintings, but you can feel them too. (Stoke-on-Trent, the famous Potteries, is the front runner for the UK Coty of Culture 2021 and he developed his technology working on historic ceramics in the city and the Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard.)

Chris’s company, Touch And Discover Systems Ltd, is one of just 100 companies nationwide to be selected as one of the best innovative ideas on the market.

Chris has taken Haptics technology, used in the aerospace and manufacturing industry, to deliver a truly tactile and entertaining cultural experience. It's art and industry working together for international harmony.

For the first time it provides a safe and secure shared space, a worldwide digital publishing platform, for international galleries and museums, historic attractions and universities worldwide to reach ever wider audiences.

Top international institutions have already submitted items for display on Gallezeum including Yale University in the USA, The British Museum and the Belvedere Museum in Vienna.

Manchester Museum is already using the technology to help people explore its collection and just this summer the collaboration won an international Jodi award for Digital Accessibility for All. The unique technology also won EU Erasmus funding in 2016 for its work on Inclusive Technologies in Museums and also the Zero Project in 2014 (A United Nations Initiative For a World Without Barriers) Awarded for being an Innovative Practise.

Chris said Gallezeum is all about breaking down the glass barriers between people and art.

“Artworks are all too often shut away behind glass to protect them. But everyone wants to touch great artworks and historic objects; fossils, sculptures, crowns and ancient pots. With this boundary-breaking virtual reality technology in their hands the cultural explorer connects with the history and culture of the whole world. This technology puts the world’s collections right there in front of you.

“Gallezeum offers enormous opportunities for galleries and museums worldwide to reach new audiences with their collections. It also offers a superb opportunity for business investors to enter the highly prestigious arena of international art and culture,” Chris said.

Innovate UK Chief Executive, Dr Ruth McKernan said: “Innovate 2017 will be an ideal platform for Touch And Discover Systems Ltd to showcase their game-changing innovation to national and international businesses and investors. I congratulate Touch And Discover Systems Ltd on their success in winning a place. They are an excellent example of the strength of UK innovation.”

Physiotherapist and culture enthusiast Andy Mackenzie from Cheshire will be at Innovate UK demonstrating the technology live.

“Gallezeum has been a revelation. As a visually impaired person, it allows me to feel the shape and texture of valuable and rare artefacts, to get a sense of them as real objects. The audio interpretation provides extra texture and detail to this fascinating experience. This really will open up a world of new opportunities for people like me,” he said.

Nick Merriman, Manchester Museum Director, said:
"Gallezeum is a great opportunity to engage with visitors, building deeper connections with our collection and with a new and committed set of museum enthusiasts, especially for people with differing abilities. With this platform, there is the potential to share our culture worldwide, we’ve been delighted to work with Touch and Discover Systems developing its potential and creating a unique new medium."

Museum and art collectors, universities, potential tech-investors, and journalists are invited to come and take a tour of Gallezeum at Innovate UK and to meet Chris and a group of blind and partially sighted culture voyagers.

For more information go to www.gallezeum.org

Or contact Christopher Dean on 0044 7790 929258 or email chris@gallezeum.org
Or alternatively Jeremy Herbert on 0044 7729 979641 herbertjeremy@rocketmail.com

Christopher Dean
Touch and Discover Systems
0044 7790 929258
email us here