Virtual Reality in Museum


Museum is where people learn historical knowledge, visit ancient artifacts, and feel ancient culture. Applying virtual reality technology to museums not only enhances people's impression of the artifacts and exhibitions in the museum, but also moves the museum into a digital-format.

Nowadays, virtual reality technology can be applied to all aspects of the museum. It can be used for a large amount of data storage, to display artifacts and exhibits, to virtually restore damaged artifacts, and to be used for exhibits. The application of virtual reality technology in museums not only protects ancient cultural heritage from damage, but also satisfies the curiosity that people want to visit and explore the details. Let's talk about the advantages of virtual reality technology in museums in detail.

1. Protect ancient cultural relics / internal display

In the museum, in order to protect the ancient cultural relics from being damaged and collected in the showcase, the visitors were unable to see the details of the exhibits at close range due to the distance of the showcase, and they could not see the parts blocked by the showcase. The virtual technology helps the museum solve this problem, using the virtual environment to put the antiquities into it, 360-degree panoramic display in front of people, and also ensure that the cultural relics do not receive damage.

2, cultural connotation

In the museum, the historical culture that has been preserved in the ancient books of ancient times. The use of virtual reality technology can convey the stories and cultures behind the cultural relics to people, just like leading people to travel through history.

3, cultural relics virtual repair and data preservation (I have talked in my previous post.)

Now, I would like to share a competition that I have followed several years. I think that is a fantastic event that you can see how the digital technologies have been involved in the museum, galleries and other exhibition related organizations.

American AllianceMuseums run an annual competition which aims at select the outstanding media and technology achievement in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM).
The digital technology enhance the engagement with audiences through the innovative digital programs and services.  I have chose some rewards that are really impressed me.

Gold: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Skin & Bones

Interactive Kiosks 2015 rewards
Gold: Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

Responsibility Theater

Jurors said: “From an educational perspective, this interactive demonstrates use of a sound interactive pedagogy where open-ended questions are used to allow visitors to explore their thoughts and feelings about a very complex subject. The use of real life stories and drama also helps to elicit emotions to make the experience more dramatic and personal. The jury liked that the technology blended into the background allowing the focus to be on the stories and the participants’ responses.”

(Due to the copyright, I didn't attach any picture here, below are the brief information of 2019 winner with the direct link to the original website, I hope you can enjoy to explore the amazing display, just by click the winner title)

Gold
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

“Absolutely incredible, a very playful exhibit that engages visitors. The experience feels very original, yet ties in the history and story of the artist.”

Silver
Lucid Realities

Bronze
by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia


Nowadays, the development prospects of virtual reality technology are very optimistic, and its application in the museum industry will become more and more extensive and deeper. It can better exert the social function and educational function of the museum and continuously inject new vitality into the development of the museum. In the future, virtual reality technology will be applied to various fields, let us wait and see.


Thank you for reading my blog during the busy holiday season!
I wish you ALL have a wonderful holiday~ Happy Thanksgiving! And a early greeting for Merry Christmas!

Love my class IDE611!



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Comments

  1. Yang,

    I think it is great that museums have VR and AR in their exhibits. I like that you can be immersed in the exhibit with AR. With technology I can go to the museum with out actually being there. Being able to get a tour of Tomb 7 makes it more interesting to me than just reading. Obviously, there is a different vibe going to a museum in person than an online tour but taking a virtual tour is the next best thing. Looking at Pearl Harbor online does not quite give you the same feeling in person. I do not know how to explain the feeling but it is an ah feeling. When I was over in Italy my family and I went to a museum in Bolzano. This is where Otzi the Iceman’s mummified body is. Since 1998 he has been housed at the South Tyrol of Archaeology in Bolzano. They say he lived 5300 years ago between 3400 and 3100 BCE. Pretty interesting sight but it is way cooler in person. Check out the link. Thanks

    http://www.iceman.it/en/the-iceman/

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark,

      Thank you very much for sharing your feeling and experience! It is quite contrast, as somehow visitor always want to see the real things instead of the reproduced one. As we are so easily to be impressed by how well those ancient artifacts can be preserved so well. But VR and AR technology provide an contrast way to interpret the past without showing any real relics. SO I totally understand you feeling, it happens to me as well. I am glad to know your had a wonderful trip in Italy. The Otzi Iceman mummified body is really cool. Thank you for sharing!

      Yang Liu

      Delete
  2. Yang,

    I visited a couple online museum's using Google Cardboard and it was very cool. It was mostly looking around one room from a set location, but I am very interesting in exploring virtual museums and tours in the future. This is a great way to save money and preserve these priceless relics and locations. Thanks for the post.

    Chuck

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chunk,

      Thank you for stopping by! I am glad to know you have enjoyed the VR technology applied in the museum field. Especially we don't have to spend money and travel far to see these amazing stuff.

      Yang

      Delete
  3. Yang,
    Gerat post, I visited several of the links you reference and found the all the be very interesting and engaging. I especially liked the one about American Alliance Museums. There was an article about haunted houses on the home page that I thought was very interesting, it reminded me of visiting Tombstone, Arizona and the legends about the Bird Cage Theater being haunted. Very interesting. Thanks
    Craig

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Craig,

      Thank you for stopping by! I was very impressed by the competition since it involved many emerging digital technology recently. Always surprised by those creative artists who can make all these amazing things happen. I am glad that you found interesting thing on the website link.

      Yang Liu

      Delete
  4. Yang,
    I downloaded google cardboard on my phone and visited a few museums using it and it was pretty cool!

    Marianna

    ReplyDelete

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