International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) |Volume VIII, Issue I, January 2023|ISSN 2454-6194
A Framework for Museum Transformation Using AR-VR Technologies to Support Tourism
Rehman Ullah Khan1*, Muhammad Nur Aliff Haiqal2
1,2 Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
*Corresponding author
Abstract: Due to the classical display of artefacts and infrastructure, museums and cultural heritages have several problems. The museums cannot engage the new generation (Gen Z). Similarly, these organisations cannot align themselves with tourism, the world’s most popular and fastest-growing service. The classical display also creates problems in reading and understanding the information, and the visitors have no interaction with the artefacts. Therefore, the visitors are getting a boring experience and ultimately fewer visitors and less income. To address all these problems, we have designed and developed an immersive and collaborative framework for the museums using advanced technologies, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). The results show that this system can engage the new generation, promote tourism, and provide an immersive and interactive experience.
Keywords: digital transformation; Museums; immersive experience; augmented reality; virtual reality; tourism; cultural artefacts.
I. Introduction
Museums exist as buildings that keep various collections that aim to preserve and conserve artefacts of the past and document historical evidence (Preziosi & Farago, 2019). Museums are mainly used as a medium of education for the public to gain knowledge of different historical artefacts and pique the public’s interest through the short interaction they are in the museum (Kersten, Tschirschwitz, & Deggim, 2017). Therefore, according to Kristianto, Dela and Santoso (2018), museums are no longer a place to preserve history but are becoming a medium for education and cultural space. Interestingly, Waltl (2006) stated that the museum’s environment and the visitor’s interaction experience are a healthy mix of entertainment and education. Hence entertainment and education play an essential role for museum visitors.
Virtual Reality (VR) presents a three-dimensional virtual world using computer technology. Users of VR experience the virtual environment as if they were in the real world. This immersive experience is provided by replicating as many human senses as possible, such as vision, touch, hearing, and smell, to provide a more immersive experience. People can benefit from virtual reality systems by having memorable and immersive experiences they would not have otherwise. VR allows individuals to tour the museum by doing rather than just reading and looking at infographics. People may attend museums even when not physically, thereby adopting VR for tourism, particularly in museums.
Augmented Reality (AR) technology is one of the leading technologies bringing numerous digital transformations by significantly improving companies’ operating processes in various industrial fields. The potential of this technology has increased the demand for its adoption by many businesses. In the beginning, the AR concept was directly related only to games. Now, this technology goes beyond games and entertainment by entering into every industry with multiple perspectives to bring substantial benefits to the well-being of businesses. Currently, AR is playing an essential role in museology, transforming the museum’s contents into digital and interactive forms. AR enables a new form of communication among museums and visitors through its power. Many companies support this technology to convey specific messages more innovatively to customers and make this connection more interactive.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has swept the world, causing significant disruptions in every economic area, including tourism. When the COVID-19 epidemic arrived, it disrupted certain museums’ future, and the only way to stay ‘open’ was to go digital. The COVID-19 outbreak began in late 2019 and pushed museums into an unexplored field. Museum institutions were forced to remain closed per the government’s regulation. Therefore, they must migrate to online platforms to continue their service to stay in business. Considering this abrupt shift has caused museums to reconsider their tactics, confront issues of relevance, and seek new paths that rely on virtual rather than physical interactions. With museums closed for 2020, the economic loss is mirrored in the massive decline in attendance numbers seen by most institutions globally. Almost 70% of participants reported a loss of more than 50% of their yearly attendance. Due to the epidemic, museums’ revenue has decreased by 70% (Bernama, 2021). Addressing these concerns necessitated immediate planning for what was rapidly dubbed the “new normal” (Johnson, 2020), as the sole presence became a data version as an alternative to the original version.