RESEARCH NOTE: Visitor Perceptions of Haptic Vests and Accessibility at Music Festivals

Although music festivals attract substantial audiences, they can fall short regarding accessibility for music tourists who are d/Deaf, disabled, or neurodiverse (MTDDN). Adopting haptic technologies (haptics) may offer potential mitigation. This investigation used Likert-type scales to explore audience perceptions of inclusion, accessibility, musical appreciation, communitas, and liveness. These allowed an evaluation of whether wearing interactive haptic vests (vests) can: a) enhance the live visitor experience at music festivals, b) strengthen the prospects of revisitation, and c) whether different perceptions are evident between MTDDN and others. Of 127 eligible respondents, over 80% agreed that haptics improved their appreciation of the musical performance, sense of inclusion, access and belonging/community, and agreed that the provision of vests would strengthen their festival-going intentions. Over 85% accepted that vests offer a more authentic live music experience. There was significantly higher acceptance among d/Deaf or hearing-impaired and disabled respondents, relative to neurodivergent respondents. An assurance that haptics would be provided leads to a stronger intention to visit in future. The findings support deploying vests at music festivals to increase accessibility for MTDDN within a wider commitment to increasing inclusion. Haptics offer potential to enhance perceptions of liveness, reduce barriers to adoption, and align with “liveness 4.0.”