A Collaborative Artefact Reconstruction Environment

Abstract

A novel collaborative artefact reconstruction environment design is presented that is informed by experimental task observation and participatory design. The motivation for the design was to enable collaborative human and computer effort in the reconstruction of fragmented cuneiform tablets: millennia-old clay tablets used for written communication in early human civilisation. Thousands of joining cuneiform tablet fragments are distributed within and between worldwide collections. The reconstruction of the tablets poses a complex 3D jigsaw puzzle with no physically tractable solution.In reconstruction experiments, participants collaborated synchronously and asynchronously on virtual and physical reconstruction tasks. Results are presented that demonstrate the difficulties experienced by human reconstructors in virtual tasks compared to physical tasks. Unlike computer counterparts, humans have difficulty identifying joins in virtual environments but, unlike computers, humans are averse to making incorrect joins. A successful reconstruction environment would marry the opposing strengths and weaknesses of humans and computers, and provide tools to support the communications and interactions of successful physical performance, in the virtual setting.The paper presents a taxonomy of the communications and interactions observed in successful physical and synchronous collaborative reconstruction tasks. Tools for the support of these communications and interactions were successfully incorporated in the "i3D" virtual environment design presented.

Automated Low-Cost Photogrammetric Acquisition of 3D Models from Small Form-Factor Artefacts

“…An example of a close-fitting virtual join between two fragments acquired from the Ur collection using this system is shown in Figure 12-the closeness of the fit between the fragments is only possible with high precision models such as those provided by the system. The fragments shown in Figure 12 have been made available in an online interaction [48] with an interface designed to support joining and study tasks [49]. The acquisition system has also been used in the virtual joining of two tablet fragments from the third tablet of the Old Babylonian version of the Atrahasis epic [50][51][52].…”

Web-Based Scientific Exploration and Analysis of 3D Scanned Cuneiform Datasets for Collaborative Research

“…The current state should, however, provide a solid base for evaluating collaborative concepts for cuneiform script analysis similar to the work of Woolley el al. [32].…”

“…While providing a working tool for joining low resolution fragments with fracture faces, this method would not work on incomplete high resolution datasets with missing fracture faces. Connected with this work, Woolley et al evaluated methods for the development of a collaborative virtual environment for 3D reconstruction of cuneiform tablets [32]. This interesting study is focused on the analysis of interaction modalities and user groups regarding the effectiveness of the collaboration, which is an important aspect of system design.…”

An Augmented Reality Virtual Museum ‘Takeout’ Interaction

“…The iOS AR app was created for a Virtual Museum 'Takeouts' and DIY Exhibition project (Woolley et al 2020) for which an Android app was also created. The initiative was part of the overarching Virtual Cuneiform Tablet Reconstruction Project virtualcuneiform.org whose original ambitions included support for virtual access to museum artefacts and whose on-line interactions were first developed for the 2017 BCS Human-Computer Interaction Conference Interactions Gallery (Collins et al 2017) to accompany and demonstrate a virtual interaction and reconstruction interface (Woolley et al 2017). The iOS AR app was intended as a proof-of-concept technology demonstrator for a participatory design process to inspire ideas and recommendations for future development from different users and stakeholders.…”