Virtual Reality Technology for the Digital Dissemination of Traditional Chinese Opera Culture

Abstract

Traditional opera, vital to China’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH), is grappling with low dissemination efficiency and an inability to meet evolving aesthetic preferences in the era of new media. We combined virtual reality (VR) technology with traditional Chinese opera (TCO) to allow users to learn about this musical art form through an immersive experience and facilitate its digital diffusion. To verify this approach’s effectiveness, this research involved the construction of a hypothetical model based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), then surveys were administered to 340 participants and data were analyzed using SPSS26 and AMOS27. The results indicate that perceived visual design positively impacted perceived usefulness (PU), self- efficacy and personal innovativeness had significantly positive impacts on perceived ease of use (PEOU). Moreover, perceived playfulness exerted a noticeable impact on PU, PEOU, and intention to use (ITU), PU and PEOU indirectly influenced ITU through attitude. Our findings provide theoretical support for predicting public acceptance of learning about TCO through VR and insight into the transmission of other ICH items through VR.

Keywords:

• Chinese opera
• virtual reality
• intangible cultural heritage
• technology acceptance model

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Hubei Provincial Department of Education of China [ZXKY2021155].

Notes on contributors

Yu-Peng Jiang

Yu-Peng Jiang works at the Department of Industrial Design at Hubei University of Technology, China. His research interests include affective design and the coupling of traditional Chinese culture with modern devices.

Chen Su

Chen Su is a professor at the Department of Industrial Design, Hubei University of Technology, China. His main research interests include traditional culture design and the evaluation system of electromechanical equipment.

Xin-Can Li

Xin-Can Li works at the Department of Industrial Design at Hubei University of Technology, China. His research interests include industrial design and the study of traditional handicrafts.