DOES EXTENDED REALITY HAVE A PLACE IN CULTURAL POLICIES?
A few weeks ago, the Center for Cultural Studies and Resources (CERC) of the Barcelona Provincial Council (DIBA) interviewed our CEO, Luis Villarejo, on the occasion of online course organized by the Barcelona Provincial Council completion. The course title was “Immersive Reality, augmented reality and virtual reality. Implementations and perspectives in the cultural policie field“. Every two years the CERC organizes Interacció, a conference dedicated to the knowledge and experiences exchange on cultural management and public policies on culture.
ONLINE COURSE: IMMERSIVE REALITY, AUGMENTED REALITY AND VIRTUAL REALITY. IMPLEMENTATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES IN CULTURAL POLICIES FIELD
This course, with limited places, lasted two days (November 16 and 18) from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. through Zoom platform. The course objective was to differentiate new realities typologies and learn about their possible applications in cultural policies. We also wanted to collect all devices that we have at our disposal to create this type of experience, emphasizing their advantages but not forgetting their drawbacks.
The course objectives were:
- Define what is meant by Immersive Reality, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.
- Establish the differences and contact points between these three reality types.
- Determine the different technological realities applicability in municipalities cultural life.
- Detail the main application fields of Immersive, Augmented and Virtual Reality, especially in patrimony and exhibitions field.
- Specify access routes to culture through virtuality.
- Show what equipment and technical requirements are needed to bring the different reality modalities to the cultural managers.
- Show applications and possible good practices in this field.
Course contents:
- Immersive, Augmented and Virtual Reality concept.
- Platforms, networks and connected objects.
- Expositions and cultural exhibitions in 360º.
- Virtuality advantages and disadvantages.
- Cultural policies and technological realities. How to reach the population virtually.
- Good practices experiences of in this field.
In the course, Villarejo not only presented the theoretical part but also demonstrated that these realities can contribute, and a lot, to cultural policies. Some of the most successful project examples are “Sant Climent de Taüll” videomapping or Ullastret 3D recreation. It is also important to comment that the European Union is investing in research projects in the same direction.
INTERVIEW
In the interview, Luis Villarejo began by explaining the differences between the three types of realities: Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality, which all are part of what is known as Extended Reality. It is important to know their differences in order to implement them in a better way.
He also assured that “incorporating immersive experiences (in cultural policies) allows generating more attractive experiences, which have a greater impact on the visitor.” It all depends on the training that each council may have or the one they may acquire over time.
Villarejo assures that one of these realities great possibilities in culture is that users can travel to any place before visiting it with virtual tours, creating a greater space connection from the home comfort.
In this you can read the interview.
Speaking of investment, not all applications for immersive experiences are excessively expensive. For Augmented Reality, only one device (smartphone, tablet…) is necessary apart from the obvious development investment. For Virtual Reality it is necessary to use special glasses, of which there are two types: the cardboard ones, which are the cheapest version and work with a smartphone, and the Oculus Quest type, which are more sophisticated (with a higher cost) but they work independently.
Despite all the positive aspects or benefits that they can provide us, there are also some great ethical dilemmas in the air, such as privacy, use time or content adequacy, among others. However, there are associations such as the Immersive Learning Research Network that is responsible for “immersive learning” and has a work line to ethics.
In conclusion, Villarejo affirms that the projects, lately, are more multidisciplinary and that technology plays a fundamental role in all of them. Training is essential or, at least, knowing about its existence and its thousands of applications and benefits. In recent years, these realities have developed exponentially and, in addition, the pandemic has further accentuated their use, since much of what was done physically is now done virtually. Thus, it is not difficult to foresee that the technology sector future will include, as it already does, these new realities.
IF YOU WANT TO EXPLORE WITHOUT OBLIGATION THE BENEFITS OF AN IMMERSIVE LEARNING SOLUTION FOR YOUR COMPANY OR INSTITUTION, CONTACT US.
We will be delighted to discover the immersive experience that best suits your needs.
info@immersiumstudio.com
+ 34 616 267 756
