Virtual in Real. Interactive Solutions for Learning and Communication In the National Archaeological Museum of Marche

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Today the ICTs are favourable additions to museum exhibitions. This work aims to realize an innovative system of digital exploitation of artefacts in the National Archaeological Museum of Marche (MANaM), in order to create a shared museum that will improve the knowledge of cultural contents through the paradigm "learning by interacting" and "edutainment".The main novelty is the implementation of stand-alone multimedia installations for digital artefacts that combine real and virtual scenarios in order to enrich the experience, the knowledge and the multi-sensory perception.A Digital Library (DL) is created using Close Range Photogrammetry (CRP) techniques applied to 21 archaeological artefacts belonging to different categories. Enriched with other data (texts, images, multimedia), all 3D models flow into the cloud data server from which are recalled in the individual exhibitions. In particular, we have chosen three types of technological solutions: VISUAL, TACTILE, SPATIAL. All the solutions take into account the possibility of group interaction, allowing the participation of the interaction to an appropriate number of users. Sharing the experience enables greater involvement, generating communicative effectiveness much higher than it would get from a lonely visit. From the "Museum Visitors Behaviour Analysis" we obtain a survey about users' needs and efficiency of the interactive solutions.The main result of this work is the educational impact in terms of increase in visitors, specially students, learning increase of historical and cultural content, greater user involvement during the visit to the museum.

Development and Evaluation of an Outdoor Multisensory AR System for Cultural Heritage

“…A literature review was conducted focused on multisensory applications in CH, with VR and/or AR, among the last decades. Most common multisensory applications are indoor and based on VR [19], [25]- [27], but some interesting AR installations alluding to multisensory experiences are found, such as the "Multisensory Art Gallery", at the Tate Britain art gallery in London, United Kingdom [28], the "Refugi 307" bomb shelter, from the Spanish Civil War [29], and the mobile multisensory AR project M5SAR in Faro, Portugal [30].…”

“…While analysing previous work, it was observed that, when evaluating multisensory systems, the literature provides results mainly obtained in environments relatively controlled by selecting participants or by being tested with expert users [13]- [16], [18], [19]. As mentioned in a previous survey regarding virtual museums [20], we reinforce the need for more evaluation studies involving end-users in order to better understand further implementations, especially, considering that typical users of these technological conditions among CH are non-experienced and non-trained people, who aim to find meaningful and pleasant experiences in a very limited amount of time, precluding them from having slow learning curves [21].…”

Multisensory Augmented Reality in Cultural Heritage: Impact of Different Stimuli on Presence, Enjoyment, Knowledge and Value of the Experience

“…While audiovisual approaches appear to be the most commonly used solutions in previous implementations and studies, multisensory approaches have arisen and indicated to further enrich users' experience in cultural heritage (CH) contexts [2], [3]. The recent literature has presented several multisensory strategies using virtual and augmented reality technologies for different types of heritage sites, such as the "Haptic Museum" [4], the "Museum of Pure-Form" [5], the "National Archaeological Museum of Marche" [6], "The Feelies" [7], or the "Tanning in Medieval Coventry" [8]. Some approaches are targeted explicitly for AR technologies, such as the "Zelige Door on Golborne Road" [9], the "M5SAR" [10], and the two case studies of AR multisensory approaches in CH exhibitions [3].…”

“…Additionally, evaluations have frequently been limited to user tests carried out in controlled environments with preselected participants instead of end-users (e.g. [6], [14], [17], [38]), a fact also highlighted by [34]. In addition, few explorations have been made using AR as visual technology instead of VR across multisensory implementations, even if the literature presents AR as a technology that can be preferable when compared to some virtual reality solutions [39].…”

The Integrated Survey of Narrow Spaces and Underground Architecture: The Case Study of Campana Caves Bas-Reliefs

“…Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are rapidly developing allowing the real-time management of high resolution reality based models giving the possibility to create an alternative immersive reality that replaces the real world (Boas, 2013). The importance of using ICT in order to make culture accessible to a wider audience is demonstrated in (Clini et al, 2017) and in particular IVR digitally could provide an experience of the caves in a non-destructive way of visiting without damaging, dirtying or altering the site (Jiménez Fernández-Palacios et al, 2017).…”