Reconstruction of Industrial and Historical Heritage for Cultural Enrichment Using Virtual and Augmented Reality

Abstract

Because of its benefits in providing an engaging and mobile environment, virtual reality (VR) has recently been rapidly adopted and integrated in education and professional training. Augmented reality (AR) is the integration of VR with the real world, where the real world provides context and the virtual world provides or reconstructs missing information. Mixed reality (MR) is the blending of virtual and physical reality environments allowing users to interact with both digital and physical objects at the same time. In recent years, technology for creating reality-based 3D models has advanced and spread across a diverse range of applications and research fields. The purpose of this paper is to design, develop, and test VR for kinaesthetic distance learning in a museum setting. A VR training program has been developed in which learners can select and perform pre-made scenarios in a virtual environment. The interaction in the program is based on kinaesthetic learning characteristics. Scenarios with VR controls simulate physical interaction with objects in a virtual environment for learners. Learners can grasp and lift objects to complete scenario tasks. There are also simulated devices in the virtual environment that learners can use to perform various actions. The study’s goal was to compare the effectiveness of the developed VR educational program to that of other types of educational material. Our innovation is the development of a system for combining their 3D visuals with rendering capable of providing a mobile VR experience for effective heritage enhancement.

Digital Art and the Metaverse: Benefits and Challenges

“…In terms of the societal impact of AI art and 3D virtual galleries, there are many potential benefits. For example, such experiences could be used for storytelling purposes, and may have strong benefits for raising awareness about important social and environmental issues (such as climate change and food crises), or for cultural heritage, for example, as currently used by Nikolakopoulou et al [45] and Paulauskas et al [46], yet with a focus of Metaverse-related technologies such as virtual reality. By creating engaging and interactive digital art experiences that allow users to explore these issues in a more meaningful way, it might motivate people to take drastic actions to address these challenges.…”

The Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality on Knowledge Acquisition and Adolescent Perceptions in Cultural Education

“…Despite the intuitive immersive capabilities of VR, empirical studies exploring the cultural intersection are scarce [19][20][21]. Existing research primarily addresses VR's role in recreating historical sites, events, or artifacts [22][23][24] but neglects the broader spectrum of cultural education which includes contemporary practices, beliefs, and interrelations. While such endeavors hold merit, this gap in empirical studies underscores the need for investigations that can articulate the full range of VR's capabilities in fostering a more complete and culturally inclusive educational experience.…”

Design of Virtual Hands for Natural Interaction in the Metaverse

“…In [9], the authors provide an interesting discussion on technologies for virtual reality simulation games. In [10], similar technologies are used for the reconstruction of historical and industrial heritage for cultural enrichment.…”