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Education and interpretation

The potential for the use of 3D models is great, but techniques and ideas have not been fully explored yet.

More work needs to be undertaken on how people react to virtual objects with respect to:

  • viewer age
  • object type
  • whether access is remote or in a museum setting
  • whether the real version is used in combination with the 3D model
  • the context in which the virtual object is set

3D models have advantages over real objects in that:

  • they can be remotely viewed and manipulated to show surfaces or features that cannot be seen on display in a museum
  • they are easily reproduced allowing easier access than a real object
  • they can show features not normally visible to the naked eye
  • they can be animated to show functions which may not be desirable to show with the real version for conservation reasons or because the object is no longer workable
  • they can be easily integrated into e-learning course