Written by Anning
Augmented Reality (AR) is changing the world around us. We can use our smartphone or tablet to overlay digital images onto natural environments by using AR technology. When you look through your device’s camera, you can see a view of reality with additional photos, text, or animations added. AR differs from Virtual Reality (VR), which completely immerses you in a simulated 3D environment. With AR, the natural world remains as a background, while digital creations are superimposed on top. AR does not replace reality but provides an enhanced version of reality. This means AR is ideally suited to complement and expand museum exhibits. It provides annotations and context for what the visitor has already seen.
In recent years, AR has gradually become a technology that has received much attention in museums. More and more curators and creators are finding creative ways to utilize AR to tell their stories for museums and provide highly memorable experiences for visitors.
How museums use AR
An essential way to apply AR technology in museums is to provide supplemental information for exhibits. When users point their phones at artwork or QR codes, virtual guides or animations are displayed. This allows them to enjoy a personalized tour without relying on a guide.
Another option is complementing the increasingly popular immersive experience with more active user engagement. As 3D images and sounds expand around them, people can supplement the activity with other animations on their phones. This could allow museums to gamify the room. Like Pokémon Go, visitors can explore hidden secrets throughout the museum as if playing a game.
Advantages of AR technology in museums
First, AR transforms the experience of visiting a museum from passive to active. It sparks curiosity and captures visitors’ attention in ways that static displays cannot. Interactive tours allow visitors to pay attention to the exhibits for extended periods, prompting them to engage more deeply rather than just skimming.
Additionally, AR can add extra-dimensional layers to exhibits confined within physical cabinets or walls. This brings 2D displays to life. For example, a static oil painting can suddenly be transformed into an immersive 3D scene that the viewer can step into. Or a static exhibit can be added to a virtual production process, allowing visitors to see how it was made hundreds of years ago on their cell phone screens.
Augmented reality is continuing to change and optimize the way people experience museums in the modern era. As this exciting technology advances, the possibilities for AR in the museum are endless. It allows people to embrace the future while learning about the past.
Sources：
How technology is bringing museums back to life
By Manuel Charr
How Museums are using Augmented Reality
By CHARLOTTE COATES