How can Digital Technologies Inform or Disrupt Traditional Engagements with Heritage Sites?

Abstract

The use of digital technology in traditional museums and heritage sites has changed the way people experience and understand culture over the past decade [1]. Some scholars asserted that digital technologies could facilitate more individuals’ engagement with cultural heritage [2,3]. However, others expressed concern that digital heritage could misrepresent and distort the truth of real heritage [1,4]. This essay uses three case studies to discuss how digital technologies can both help and undermine the participation of locals and tourists in learning about cultural heritage.