Why museums and heritage settings should embrace Augmented Reality (AR)
Increase learning, but avoid cluttered or intrusive signage, by overlaying digital content onto real world views of exhibits and sites.
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital content, e.g. images, video, 2d and 3d animations, onto the physical environment when viewed through mobile devices. Unlike Virtual reality (VR), which immerses users in a fully digital world, AR enhances real-world objects and environments by adding additional layers of information that can significantly improve the user’s engagement experience.
Curators and museum learning and visitor experience teams can use AR to:
Enhance storytelling and interpretation – Instead of relying solely on text panels and extended labels, AR can bring exhibits to life with animated reconstructions, visualisations, or character-led commentary.
Image-triggering technologies can be used to activate the presentation of location-specific content, making it fast and easy for visitors to access relevant information, depending on their location.
Provide deeper engagement – AR digital overlays can provide more in-depth information about individual objects in a way that is easier to understand and access. This could include providing information about when and where the object was found and its history using maps and timelines or technical drawings and animations demonstrating how the object was made and might have been used.
Increase accessibility - AR can deliver exhibit-responsive audio and visual descriptions and sign language videos, making your museums more inclusive to diverse audiences.
Engage families – Game based activities like treasure trails, quizzes and quests that utilise AR elements deliver a significantly more entertaining experience than those without. It is the magic of AR that is exciting and compelling, and it these characteristics that deliver a memorable experience that families love.
AR is for everyone
AR is not a short-term trend; think about the popularity of Pokémon Go and AR face features on social media apps. AR is a powerful tool for attracting new audiences and creating a more interactive and engaging interpretation experience for visitors of all ages.
Get in touch to have a chat about how we can help you exploit AR to improve access and engagement and ensure an impactful and value for money solution.