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Sun 31 Oct, 2004 04:53 am
New technology meets the past - and historical tourism. What do you think?
(Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3954659.stm
Pompeii gets digital make-over
Visitors would have to wear a head-mounted display
The old-fashioned audio tour of historical places could soon be replaced with computer-generated images that bring the site to life.
A European Union-funded project is looking at providing tourists with computer-augmented versions of archaeological attractions.
It would allow visitors a glimpse of life as it was originally lived in places such as Pompeii.
It could pave the way for a new form of cultural tourism.
Combining real and virtual
The technology would allow digital people and other computer-generated elements to be combined with the actual view seen by tourists as they walk around an historical site.
Pompeii would be peopled by computer-generated characters
The Lifeplus project is part of the EU's Information Society Technologies initiative aimed at promoting user-friendly technology and enhancing European cultural heritage.
Engineers and researchers working in the Europe-wide consortium have come up with a prototype augmented-reality system.
It would require the visitor to wear a head-mounted display with a miniature camera and a backpack computer.
The camera captures the view and feeds it to software on the computer where the visitor's viewpoint is combined with animated virtual elements.
At Pompeii for example, the visitor would not just see the frescos, taverns and villas that have been excavated, but also people going about their daily life.
Augmented reality has been used to create special effects in films such as Troy and Lord of the Rings and in computer gaming......
Good idea. That's good for some people,who couldn't imagine that before.
Counter question: What do you think?
I think it is the next logical step onwards from putting on headphones and listening to an audio commentary. If it helps to teach people about our history and cultural origins, then I'm all for it. The only downside I could see is if the educational content is compromised for the sake of entertainment.
Thok wrote:Good idea. That's good for some people,who couldn't imagine that before.
Counter question: What do you think?
I would love it as long as it was optional - I would first very much like to be left to my own feelings and imaginings, not forced to swallow someone else's - I would hate it if such figures were there if you wanted them to be or not.
wow, that's pretty cool. But, like dlowan, I'd like it to be optional.
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