Virtual welcome guide for interactive museums

Abstract

We describe a Virtual Welcome Guide (VWG) that interacts with the visitors of an exhibition. If the visitor enters the exhibition, the VWG, shown on a screen, welcomes the guest. The eyes of the VWG follow the guest. If the visitor leaves too fast, the VWG tells him/her to come back. If the visitor is interested in the artefacts shown at the exhibition the VWG indicates a gesture of approval. The purpose of the presented installation is to enhance the interest of visitors in exhibitions by feeling connected through an interactive design. A Kinect sensor is used for tracking the visitor. The visitors' position triggers predefined video sequences. Initial testing has revealed that the user feels naturally connected with the media actor.