Augmented Reality (AR) is an innovative technology that overlays digital information such as images, videos, animations, text, onto the physical world. In museums, it revolutionises the way visitors interact with the artifacts and exhibitions through simple devices like smartphones, tablets or AR glasses. It offers a significant potential for enhancing museum visits, particularly for visitors who present with disability and cognitive or sensory impairments.
Pros of AR in Museums:
- Enhanced learning and education opportunities: AR allows the representation of complex information and historical contexts in a dynamic and visual format. With AR visitors can interact and explore complex concepts hands-on, deepening the understanding of the exhibition and artifacts and enhancing engagement and motivation of visitor.
- Increased accessibility: AR can significantly enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities as it can provide them with the tools that address their needs to better interact with their surroundings. AR will definitely allow to simplify the navigation and visit for diverse audiences with the various features it provides. For example, AR can project real-time text or spoken audio descriptions onto objects or settings, which will be a more adapted option for persons with visual or auditory impairments. In other cases.
- Attract broader audiences as it can be very entertaining: The entertaining and interactive nature of AR appeals to families and younger visitors, turning visits into adventures.
- Personalized visitor experience: Visitors can personalize their visit with AR, choosing the content, language or level of detail that suits their interests and needs.
- Cultural preservation: AR allows to recreate historical artefacts or environments, which would allow to concretely immerse the visitor in the experience. For instance, AR can simulate ancient ruins, extinct animals and species, or even restore artefacts’ original appearances digitally. This can revolutionise the visit without risking to damage original artifacts.
Cons of AR in Museums:
- High costs of development : Developing AR content and maintaining the required infrastructure can be expensive, especially for smaller museums.
- Limited access and inequality: Economic barriers may prevent some institutions or visitors from accessing AR benefits which in its turn leads to creating a digital divide.
- Technological limitation: Integrating AR technology with existing systems could be complex, especially if it is being combined with older technology.
- Visitor resistance: Not all visitors might appreciate the use of AR as there are some people that still do not fell comfortable and familiar with digital tools. This could prevent them from wanting to engage in a visit from the first place.
These challenges of integrating AR in museums may present can be overcome to allow museums to benefit from what AR has to offer. For high costs, museums can consider starting small by piloting affordable AR tools like Actionbound or Metaverse Studio. These platforms allow museums to create interactive experiences without significant investment. To address access and inequality, visitors can be provided with loaner devices or be instructed to use free apps like Google Lens.
For visitors unfamiliar with AR, clear instructions, on-site guides or museum staff can ease their visit experience.
In conclusion, with thoughtful planning and gradual adoption, AR can become a transformative tool for your museum.
Visit Metaverse Studio’s website and discover affordable AR tools.
Visit Actionbound’s studio and discover affordable AR tools.