the dinar project: meaningful mixed reality for heritage - gareth beale

DiNAR //MIXED REALITY AND PLACE IN ARCHÆOLOGYGARETH BEALE

• Multidisciplinary research centre funded by the EPSRC and AHRC to investigate the convergence of games and interactive media. • Multiple Universities and 70+ partners• The primary goal is to generate real world

impact from leading research.• Research themes include digital heritage,

language learning, serious games and game analytics.

DiNAR Project• Real world applications of mixed reality for archaeology and

cultural heritage. • We are particularly interested in playful and narrative

engagement. • Beyond hype and towards meaningful use cases based on

underlying affordances of technology and real world needs.• Multi-disciplinary Museum-University partnerships. • 6 month period of experimental design and prototyping

followed by externally funded collaborations. • Sustainable project structures and business models.

Established View of Mixed RealityReal World

Virtual Reality

Augmented Reality AV

Augmented Virtuality

Not just visual technology• We are not

determined by technology and are interested in the braod intersection between digital and material more broadly.

• Impact of pervasive digital technology on physical and social engagements with the world.

Performance, Play and Engagement.

• Playful design and storytelling practic• Using narrative forms to frame

interactive media experiences.

Kick Off MeetingProject partners from University of York and Uppsala University met to formulate university-side technical and theoretical research questions and to plan the development of partnerships for ongoing work.

Community co-productionManaging learning curves to enable participation using methods such as familiarity and genre

This impacts on media forms e.g. audio

Also, we want to think about the points at which communities can be meaningfully involved i.e. asset development or authorship?

Use of existing hardware platforms?Bring your own device or re-use of existing on site technologies

Re-usable software platforms and assetsWhat form do these take?• Interactive Storytelling Toolkits – paper

based or digital? • How do these skills map onto established

forms of narrative development?• Light touch narrative development tools• Full design and implementation toolkits

or consultancy service? • What are the implications for

sustainability?

Next StepsWe are visiting Uppsala to talk about these themes within a Swedish context. Emphasis on Interaction Design, HCI and Museums.

We are seeking new partners for everything from casual input through to focus groups and partners for implementation.

UK event late summer.

Project Contacts• Gareth Beale (Centre for Digital Heritage)• Nicole Beale (Archaeology)• Jon Hook (Theatre, Film and Television)• Guy Schofield (Theatre, Film and

Television)• Daniel Löwenborg (Uppsala Archaeology)