A framework for constructing and evaluating the role of MR as a holographic virtual guide in museums

• Published in: Virtual reality : the journal of the Virtual Reality Society 2021-12, Vol.25 (4), p.895-918
• Main Authors: Hammady, Ramy, Ma, Minhua, AL-Kalha, Ziad, Strathearn, Carl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial Intelligence; Audio data; Computer Graphics; Computer Science; Cultural heritage; Cultural resources; Cultural tourism; Evaluation; Image Processing and Computer Vision; Mixed reality; Multimedia; Museums; Original Article; Tour guides; Tourism; User Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction
• ISSN: 1359-4338; 1434-9957
• DOI: 10.1007/s10055-020-00497-9

Mixed reality (MR) is a cutting-edge technology at the forefront of many new applications in the tourism and cultural heritage sector. This study aims to reshape the museum experience by creating a highly engaging and immersive museum experience for visitors combing real-time visual, audio information and computer-generated images with museum artefacts and customer displays. This research introduces a theoretical framework that assesses the potential of MR guidance system in usefulness, ease of use, enjoyment, interactivity, touring and future applications. The evaluation introduces the MuseumEye MR application in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo using mixed method surveys and a sample of 171 participants. The results of the questionnaire highlighted the importance of the mediating the role of the tour guide in enhancing the relationship between perceived usefulness, ease of use, multimedia, UI design, interactivity and the intention of use. Furthermore, the results of this study revealed the potential future use of MR in museums and ensured sustainability and engagement past the traditional visitor museum experience, which heightens the economic state of museums and cultural heritage sectors.