Interwoven Spaces with XR, AI and Robots: Merging Realities in Space and Time

Abstract

Cultural heritage is an important part of our lives, forming our identities through our ancestral roots and social experiences. Preserving these cultural relationships and providing accessibility, availability and knowledge dissemination is paramount for societies to safeguard their history and evolve. Over the years, the cultural heritage sector has been supported by multiple technological innovations, helping to preserve, reconstruct and share historical information in multiple digital forms. As a result of the exponential advances in software, hardware and networking capabilities, and the introduction of emerging technologies such as Robotics, Immersive Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and others, the concept of Intelligent Reality drew a lot of research interest recently. This chapter focuses on emerging Intelligent Reality environments and how such systems can support and enhance experiencing cultural heritage, through a fusion of realities driven by technology and humans. It presents two experimental case studies currently at the forefront of research, that are designed and implemented in controlled laboratory environments to test their efficacy. Through these cases, the chapter explores how to create innovative ways for Cultural Heritage institutions to engage with the public in immersive ways that enable visitors to become present in parallel realities and experience cultural heritage in space and in time.