XR for Dispersed Heritage - VR experience in Ancona

Over the weekend of 4–5 July, the National Archaeological Museum of the Marche hosted an XR experience showcasing the ancient glass collection of Zadar, as part of the Dispersed heritage use case of the XRculture project. During this, the IN2 team explored how the latest MR hardware (Meta Quest 3), can be harnessed to virtually reunite cultural heritage. By seamlessly blending digital representations with physical environments, MR provides a powerful tool for bridging these historical and geographical divides. This exploration demonstrated how MR can enhance visitor engagement, and promoted a deeper understanding of cultural heritage. A key distinction between this type of experience and a full immersive VR experience is that the visitor remains grounded in the museum as opposed to being transported somewhere else in a metaverse. 

The experience recounted the story of how the Zadar Glass Collection made it to Ancona from Zadar, and their significance. 3D models of the digitised glass objects were included in the story, allowing the user to examine them in more detail. The software infrastructure for deploying the story was provided through the WeaveX tool developed by IN2.

Check out our detailed analysis of the results of the use case on the XRculture website or check out our video about the XR experience in Ancona.