Revealing Nottingham’s secret history through augmented reality

Moneta, A. ORCID: 0000-0002-9125-2806, 2022. Revealing Nottingham’s secret history through augmented reality. The Conversation.

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Abstract

The article presents the results of a research aimed at investigating and restoring the forgotten yet unique identity of Nottingham (UK), as the first step towards the creation of a City Museum of Intangible Heritage. The research, funded by Nottingham Trent University, digitally re-created the Market Wall and other historical elements of the Old Market Square in Nottingham using digital locative technology (Augmented Reality, GeoBlog). The aim was to reveal Nottingham’s hidden heritage inviting citizens and tourists to experience the deep roots of the city using a smartphone or tablet. Augmented Reality (AR), in fact, gives the possibility to have a realistic view of the historical Market Wall blended right into the user’s view of the real world, being AR a technology already available on most smartphones. With AR anyone can easily discover and interact with the history of the city through virtual archaeology. Data collection was finalised to the mapping of all historical architectural and archaeological data into layers, and then compared and investigated using a Geo-Blog, in which users can easily visualise georeferenced research data and images on an interactive map. The AR app created interest in the local and national press, but it also generated curiosity in the citizens, with over 200 users in the first week downloading the app from the GeoBlog. The article argues that the development of smartphones and AR technology are creating more possibilities to integrate virtual reality with our real world. Therefore, digitally enhancing natural environments, the built environment, and heritage sites, AR on smartphones and tablets are extending museums and exhibitions beyond their traditional parameters and possibly also audiences. In the first week after its publication, the article reached 4000 readers and 60 shares on social media.

Item Type:	Newspaper or popular journal contribution
Publication Title:	The Conversation
Creators:	Moneta, A.
Publisher:	The Conversation Trust (UK) Limited
Date:	21 July 2022
Identifiers:	Number Type 1595919 Other
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham School of Art & Design
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	08 Sep 2022 14:16
Last Modified:	08 Sep 2022 14:16
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/46990

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