Co-Design of a Playful Mixed Reality Installation: An Interactive Crane in the Museum of Marble Crafts

Abstract

Interactive installations in museums usually adopt hybrid technologies that combine physical elements with digital content, and studies so far show that this approach enhances the interest and engagement of visitors compared to non-interactive media or purely digital environments. However, the design of such systems is complicated, as it involves a large number of stakeholders and specialists. Additionally, the functional components need to be carefully orchestrated to deliver a rich user experience. Thus, there is a need for further research on tools and methods that facilitate the process. In this paper we present the design and development of a mixed reality installation for the Museum of Marble Crafts in Tinos island in Greece, which places visitors in the role of the crane operator and they have to complete challenges in a gamified version of the old quarry. The system lets users operate a tangible controller and their actions are executed by digital workers in a rich 3D environment. Our design approach involved iterative prototyping, research and co-design activities. The creative process has been supported by a series of organized workshops. The evaluation results indicate that mixed reality can be a promising medium for rich interactive experiences in museums that combine tangible and intangible heritage.

User Experience Perspectives on the Application of Interactivity Design Based on Sensor Networks in Digital Museum Product Display

“…The economic form of today's society has transitioned from the era of product economy and service economy to the age of experience economy. Under the background of the experience economy, people's needs are further transformed into experiential requirements, and experience design is born, and gradually penetrates various fields related to people's production and life, and is widely used in the Internet, communication, education, and research, media, marketing, and other fields [7]. Unlike traditional product design, which focuses on "things" and pursues the functionality and aesthetics of products, the main object of experience design is the user.…”

Is Architecture Connected with Intangible Cultural Heritage? Reflections from Architectural Digital Documentation and Interactive Application Design in Three Aegean Islands

“…It is apparent that the future design of interactive applications and research through design approaches must ensure that the connections made by the project team will be delivered to the visitors to acquire the physiognomy of the place. Indicative attempts of this approach are already found in relative literature [55,56]. However, future research is necessary in order to provide visitors and users of interactive applications with such a touring experience, embarking upon a journey that will encourage them to wander around the settlement and search for the individual material manifestations of intangible heritage.…”

Museums and Digital Culture: From Reality to Digitality in the Age of COVID-19

“…The survey period in this report covers December 2020 to May 2021. This extensive survey of museums brings evidence to bear to show that COVID-19 was the key driver of digital transformation in museums and for introducing new technologies such as AR (augmented reality) [20][21][22], VR (virtual reality), and hybrid approaches like MR (mixed reality) [23,24]. The survey confirms that these technologies are here to stay, with their use clearly on the rise, confirming our previous investigations in this area [1] and those in this current paper.…”