Week 10 – AR VR and 3D
This was a fun lesson…
I enjoyed exploring 123 catch. The 3d model of the Tardis was good as long as you do not look at the back. I can imagine playing with my kids and getting a bit obsessed with trying to render perfect models. I also think that this could be a great Public program at the museum. Kids could select something from the education handling collection and go about creating a 3D likeness… Speaking of kids what about free 3D colouring… http://www.quivervision.com/
Tim, like you I wonder about the application of AR and VR for Museums. The NMA has developed an AR trail relating to Kspace. You download an App, then look for markers throughout the museum, and are rewarded with a Kspace character when you aim your device at the marker. You can also download the markers and use the app at home – though, the site does not say much about using them at home. But in thinking about it now, maybe a game of hide and seek or a scavenger hunt would be cool! On the flip side, I’m not sure how this contributes to the museum’s mission. http://www.nma.gov.au/kspace/kspace_app.
I too find most of the cultural institutions on Google Institute a bit disembodied and lifeless. It is kind of fun that you can visit lots of institutions at any time of the day, in any part of the world, but what do we get out of this? Here is the Ted talk by Google’s Amit Sood, explaining the development and thinking around Google institute; https://www.ted.com/talks/amit_sood_building_a_museum_of_museums_on_the_web?language=en
While I am not that keen on visiting the cultural institutions via Google Institute, I really do think that being able to explore historic sites it useful. For sites such as Pompeii, or the pyramids of Giza, the technology used by Google institute allows detailed recording. Additionally, everyone can visit fragile sites without causing further degradation. Opportunity to visit such sites is a bit limited at present, I would like to see more. It would be great if these kind of sites were able to give google more access, allowing visitors to go behind the scenes and explore in more detail.
Lastly, I am not that keen on the idea of 3D printing artefacts, except in terms of giving access to people with visual impairment. Touching replicas and examples of materials from which the original object was made can aid in accurately imagining an artefact.
Perhaps for cultural institutions it’s all about horses for courses… Looking at where this kind of technology is appropriate or useful to adding extra layers of interesting interpretation.
