http://ozchi2019.visemex.org/wp/

Experiential Tourism and Virtual Heritage: the interaction design challenges.

Material heritage decays, intangible heritage disappears. But virtual heritage (virtual reality serving the aims of digital cultural heritage) has performed abysmally when attempting to preserve either, and whether virtual heritage communicates heritage values effectively, is up for debate.  Former UNESCO World Heritage expert Alonso Addison, warned (Addison, 2008) there is a “vanishing virtual.” And Hal Thwaites declared digital heritage projects disappear faster than the actual heritage sites, artefacts, and practices that they simulate (Thwaites, 2013). Yet there is a huge market opportunity. Australian tourism is predicted to recoup $143 billion this year (Ludlow & Housego, 2019) and nearly 30% of international visitors visit a museum or gallery (Ludlow, 2019).  Can gaming and XR (virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality) provide insight to the past and leverage the cultural tourism market? Or are the interaction design challenges underestimated?

• Addison, A. C. (2008). The Vanishing Virtual: Safeguarding Heritage’s Endangered Digital Record. In Y. E. Kalay, T. Kvan, & J. Affleck (Eds.), New Heritage: New Media and Cultural Heritage. (pp. 27-39). Oxfordshire UK: Routledge.
• Ludlow, M. (2019). Cultural attractions used to lure tourists. Financial Review, 2019(16 November 2019).
• Ludlow, M., & Housego, L. (2019). Tourism now employs one in 13 Australians. Financial Review, 2019(16 November 2019).
• Thwaites, H. (2013). Digital Heritage: What Happens When We Digitize Everything? In E. Ch’ng, V. Gaffney, & H. Chapman (Eds.), Visual Heritage in the Digital Age (pp. 327-348). London: Springer.