From Ta-Kesh to Ta-Kush: The affordances of digital, haptic visualisation for heritage accessibility

The Affordances of 3D and 4D Digital Technologies for Computerized Facial Depiction

“…Optic and haptic interactions with digital human remains can provide additional affordances that are highly relevant in facial depiction. These technologies often allow the scientist, artist or member of the public to see closer and deeper, make decisions about the unknown and interact more attentively with faces from the past (Smith, et al, 2018). Face Lab will continue to utilise 3D digital technologies in facial analysis and depiction of human remains for forensic investigation, or historical figures for archaeological interpretation.…”

“…(Wilson et al 2017) When 3D volumetric data of a skull is received by Face Lab, an open source volume rendering software, 'InVesalius©' (https://invesalius.github.io/) is used to generate a digital 3D model that can then be used in other software for facial depiction. While 'haptic' usually refers to touching surfaces, it can also refer to a mode of visual perception that is capable of penetrating a surface to visualise within a given form (Smith et al, 2018). This is a particular affordance of clinical imaging whereby manipulation of values of Hounsfield Units and interactions with 3D surfaces through volume rendering in a 3D space can allow the user to see beyond the surface, and from multiple viewpoints at once.…”

“…Keehner and Lowe (2010) describe the advantages of such touch-based approaches, "The eyes have a single viewpoint, but the hands have multiple 'touchpoints' and thus the fingers and palm can work in concert as a 3D 'shape gauge'. This shape-gauging mechanism is something for which there is no direct equivalent in visual exploration" and virtual touch using a haptic interface device during the facial depiction process often allows for an almost 'in-life' interaction with skeletal remains that may not physically be nearby (Smith, et al, 2018). It is these additional affordances that have made this device and the accompanying Freeform© software suitable for 3D facial depiction.…”

“…By touching an object as well as looking at it, we are permitted access to additional information about 3D shape (Keehner, 2010), and in the case of Ta-Kush, we get the opportunity to know more about her through her facial appearance. 3D printing technologies afford the production of likenesses of otherwise fragile human remains, with which visitors may directly interact (Smith et al, 2018).…”

“…Psychologist J. J. Gibson (1966) coined the term 'affordance' and proposed that we actively seek information through exploratory experiences with surfaces and the relationships between them, and that these experiences are fundamental to the exploration of the creative and innovative ways that people respond to and adapt technology for use in unforeseen circumstances (Smith et al, 2018).…”