How Technology Opens the Door to the World of the Blind and Visually Impaired

From April 14th to December 31st, 2026, the Technical Museum of Slovenia in Bistra will host the visiting exhibition “Touch the World”, which explores the development of devices that have enabled blind and visually impaired individuals to achieve independence, education, and active inclusion in society throughout history.

The guest exhibition is the result of international cooperation between institutions: the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka (PPMHP), the Technical Museum of Slovenia, and Community of Technical Culture Rijeka. The central part of the exhibition consists of objects donated to the Rijeka museum by the Association of the Blind of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGŽ) on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. At the Technical Museum of Slovenia, we have enriched the display with selected items from our own collections.

What Can You See?

The exhibition offers an insight into ingenious solutions that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the era before smartphones:

• Communication Aids: Manual and mechanical Braille typewriters, as well as tools for calculating and measuring.
• Everyday Independence: Precious examples of tactile pocket and wristwatches, a collection of white canes, and adapted sets for board games and recreation.
• Art Without Borders: Handicrafts and artworks created in the Creative Workshop of the Association of the Blind PGŽ under the mentorship of Mirjana Marin.

The purpose of the “Touch the World” exhibition is to broaden the understanding of the needs of the blind and visually impaired in everyday life. Today, many of these objects have been replaced by modern devices, making the exhibited items a valuable part of technical heritage. We invite you to experience a world that is not only looked at but understood through history and touch.

Photo: PPMHP Archive