Introduction to Virtual Reality in Museums
The University of Glasgow has launched the [un]box Virtual Reality kiosk as a part of the £6.2 million Museums within the Metaverse (MiM) project. This project is funded by the UK Government’s Innovation Accelerator programme and led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation. The kiosk is an exciting development on the earth of museums and technology, allowing visitors to explore a virtual space station and examine 3D models of historical artefacts.
Exploring the Virtual World
The Glasgow kiosk offers an immersive experience, where visitors can explore a virtual space station and stand up near 3D models of historical artefacts, including the skull of Dolly the Sheep, fossils, and minerals. This progressive technology allows people to interact with artefacts in a way that was previously inconceivable. The response from the general public has been extremely positive, with visitors amazed by the extent of detail and realism.
Bringing Museums to the Metaverse
The MiM project goals to broaden access to cultural collections by digitising and sharing them in immersive environments. So far, nearly 450 objects have been digitised in collaboration with the Hunterian Museum and National Museums Scotland. The platform may even enable users to curate their very own exhibitions using MiM’s growing gallery of digital artefacts once fully operational. The 3D models are created through photogrammetry, using tons of of photographs stitched together and refined by digital artists.
Availability and Future Plans
The [un]box kiosk is currently situated on the Glasgow Science Centre and is offered for public use for 2 weeks until December 19. This marks a public debut for the MiM platform, ahead of its formal online release, which is as a consequence of happen in the approaching months. The organisers plan to roll out the platform nationally, opening up tons of of digitised objects and immersive environments to audiences around the globe.
Collaboration and Innovation
The collaboration between the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Science Centre highlights the exciting and continuing potential of Scottish innovation. Dr Gillian Lang, director of experience development at Glasgow Science Centre, said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer Glasgow Science Centre visitors the primary opportunity in a visitor attraction environment to experience this ground-breaking immersive virtual environment.” The MiM project is designed to enrich – not replace – traditional museums, making collections more accessible and interactive for wider audiences.
Conclusion
The launch of the [un]box Virtual Reality kiosk is an exciting development on the earth of museums and technology. The MiM project has the potential to revolutionise the best way we experience and interact with cultural collections. With its immersive environments and 3D models, the platform offers a singular and interesting technique to find out about history and culture. As the project continues to roll out nationally and online, it is going to be exciting to see the way it develops and what recent opportunities it brings for museums and audiences alike.
