Why Historical Reconstruction? Part 2/2

Real-time computer generated 3D environments offer two basic advantages to users (Gaitatzes, A). That of am immersive experience, where the illusion of being in the projected world occurs and the user sees themselves 'living' in the experience presented before them.
Gaitatzes follows on by saying it offers a 'better than real life' or 'better than being there' experience. The argument presented by Zuffo suggests that providing enough model details to enable an accurate historical representation should be as important as the availability and usability for a diverse range of users. Some of which may not be familiar with different technology and ways of using it.
The second advantage is interaction. The fact that an audience are not merely watching a realistic historical reconstruction on a computer screen but to actively participate in the experience. As the projected graphics are simply not pre recorded and set out as a visual story but an actual real-time the user can define movement, behaviour and thus creates immersion as described above.

Having looked at the advantages of why using real time historical reconstructions, the benefit to an audience in terms of an interactive and immersive experience it can be seen as a powerful tool. The museum experience can thus be altered to benefit visitors, using computer aided real time visuals as well as traditional informative presentations such as images, artefacts and documents. Giving visitors the opportunities to explore and interact within exhibits provides a means of learning (Hall, T). They argue that using augmented methods such as combining the use of digital and physical environments enhances a visitors interaction in these 'Living Exhibitions'.


References

Gaitatzes, A., Chritopoulos, D., Voulgari, A., Roussou, M. (2001) Hellenic Cultural Heritage through Immersive Virtual Archaeology.
Hall, T., Benford, S., Bowers, S (2002) The Visitor as Virtual Archaeologist: Explorations in Mixed Reality Technology to Enhance Educational and Social Interaction in the Museum.
Zuffo, M., Cabral, M., Nomura, L., Nagamura, M., Andrade, F., Ghirotti, S., Belloc, O., (2007)X3D Experiences on Historical Architectural Digital Reconstruction: A case Study of Sao Paulo city in 1911.
Zara, J. (2004) Virtual Reality and Cultural Heritage on the Web.

Weblinks
http://www.romereborn.virginia.edu/