5 Benefits of Virtual Reality for Museums
Virtual Reality is making huge strides in realism and ease of use. At the same time, creating VR experiences is becoming more affordable and accessible. Given these advances, museum professionals are asking themselves – How can they best use Virtual reality? Can they enhance their existing exhibits or create amazing new content.
Here are 5 ways a VR based exhibit can make an immediate impact on a museum’s collection:
1. Resurrect places and cultures lost to time
Have you ever dreamed of traveling to a distance time or place? How many iconic places are now little more than ruins, shadows of their former selves? How many civilizations lost, cities destroyed, and monuments eroded by time?
Now imagine transporting museum visitors to these places. The Lighthouse of Alexandria or visiting the Colosseum of Rome in its full glory.
Museums now have access to digital time machines in the form of Virtual Reality. They can build all these experiences and more for a fraction of the cost of a physical re-creation. Museums also have full editorial control of this digital world. This allows for greater historical accuracy.
2. Explore destinations beyond reach.
Do you want to take a trip to Mars? I do, but I can’t. I was born too early and the technology to do so is still under development. How about visiting the International Space Station? Imagine stepping out into the darkness of space and seeing what only a few humans have ever glimpsed. The view of our glorious planet from 40 km above.
Visiting Mars and ISS is not possible for everyone now, but Virtual Reality gives museum goers the next best thing. All they have to do is slip on a VR headset and they can see the wonder of space through the eyes of an Astronaut.
3. A window into your museum, driving more visits
While some museum professionals fear that technological advances like VR/AR will stop people from visiting their museums. The truth may be just the opposite. A limited showcase of what a museum has to offer through mobile VR apps can bring an exhibit to the attention of millions of visitors.
All a user needs is a smart-phone and an inexpensive piece of VR technology like Samsung’s Gear VR or Google Cardboard to try these apps. It’s a great way to advertise and create excitement about upcoming exhibits.
4. Blend education with entertainment
Students of all ages learn more quickly and retain more information by living an experience rather than just reading about it.
When people are immersed in a world, and are free to explore at their own pace, they will be more receptive to learning. For today’s generation of technophile students, Virtual Reality can used as a natural extension of the classroom.
5. Share live events, art exhibits, special occasions and more!
By tapping into the millions of potential Google Cardboard and Gear VR users, Usinh 360-degree Video to inaugurate new art exhibits and cover live events happening at a museum. Live 360-degree camera feeds brings these special events into the homes of spectators while at the same time helping to drive traffic through a museum’s gates.