Restoring Dunhuang Murals: Crafting Cultural Heritage Preservation Knowledge into Immersive Virtual Reality Experience Design

Abstract

With the development of digital technology, tourists have higher expectations for their experiences with digital cultural heritage (CH). However, there is limited research and design guidelines on how to effectively convey expert knowledge and transfer the value and connotations of digital CH to users in a virtual environment. Based on existing literature, we proposed a systematic design strategy for immersive virtual reality (IVR) systems, incorporating multimodal interaction, gamification, and storytelling for CH presentation, development, and promotion to the public. Accordingly, taking the virtual restoration of the Dunhuang murals as an example, we developed an IVR system that provided users with learning, interactive, and entertaining experiences, facilitating their transition from mere visitors to active learners while engaging with digital CH. We conducted a between-subjects user study involving 42 participants. The results demonstrated that our IVR system motivated users interests in CH, promoted CH preservation awareness, and could be applied in the domain of digital CH experiences.

Keywords:

• Immersive virtual reality
• cultural heritage
• multimodal interaction
• immersive experience
• Dunhuang mural preservation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program [Grant No. 2020YFC1523001].

Notes on contributors

Tongxin Sun

Tongxin Sun is a PhD student in Design at the Academy of Arts & Design and the Future Laboratory of Tsinghua University. Her research interests include Human-Computer Interaction, Inclusive Design, Aging and Accessibility, and Virtual/Augmented Reality.

Tongtong Jin

Tongtong Jin is a postgraduate student at Department of Industrial Design, School of Mechanical Engineering & Automation, Beihang University. Her research interests include accessibility of intergenerational communication and human-computer interaction.

Yuru Huang

Yuru Huang a postgraduate student at Computational Media and Arts, Information Hub, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (GZ). Her research interests include user experience design for aging and Accessible human-computer interaction.

Meng Li

Meng Li is a PhD student in Animation Art at the School of Animation & Digital Arts, Communication University of China, and an associate professor at the School of Digital Media Art, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Her research focuses on narrative design from the perspective of tangible interaction.

Yun Wang

Yun Wang is a PhD student in Design at the Academy of Arts & Design and the Future Laboratory of Tsinghua University, and an associate professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beihang University. Her research focuses on user experience design.

Zhe Jia

Zhe Jia is an intern at the Future Laboratory of Tsinghua University. He graduated from Xi’an Conservatory of Music. His research focuses on the sound experience in VR environments.

Xinyi Fu

Xinyi Fu is an Assistant Professor at the Future Laboratory, Tsinghua University. Her research interests include natural human-computer interaction, affective computing, and digital preservation of cultural heritage.