Connected Virtual Experiences for Small and Less Visible Museum Artefacts

Abstract

This paper summarises a programme of research motivated by the challenge of achieving engaging 3D virtual experiences for small heritage artefacts, the sorts of artefacts that mare difficult to display and may be easily overlooked in museum settings. The challenges are i) a lack of easy-to-use, low-cost solutions for acquiring all around, textured 3D models of small form-factor objects and ii) the inherent challenge of achieving engaging and connected virtual experiences for artefacts that are not visibly striking. The paper summarises the research challenges and outlines the research case study - a virtual reality experience for ‘cuneiform tablets’, ancient written records impressed on handheld clay ‘tablets’.