Extended Reality (XR) is increasingly prevalent in museum educational practices. Utilizing XR adds significant value to visitor experiences by providing an additional layer of interactivity, immersion, and contextualization of the content and spaces being visited.
Under this philosophy, and with the goal of providing genuine added value with meticulous historical accuracy, Isostopy recently presented two immersive VR applications: Siega Verde (developed for the Siega Verde Rock Shelter, Salamanca) and L’Aprenent (at the Museu dels Sants d’Olot, Girona).
While featuring distinct educational content tailored to each space, both applications were designed to create a more enriching and engaging experience for visitors, while expanding the scope and impact of their visit.
Siega Verde
Location: Siega Verde Site (Salamanca)
This experience, presented during the European Archaeology Day, can be enjoyed in the interpretation classroom of the archaeological site, allowing visitors to deepen their knowledge of this space, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010.
Using VR headsets, users can be transported to the Upper Paleolithic and witness how our ancestors created fire, crafted their tools, and engraved stone 20,000 years ago.
This historical site is considered one of the most important Paleolithic art ensembles of the Iberian Peninsula, featuring approximately 645 animal figures – horses, bulls, deer, goats, reindeer, bison, and rhinoceroses – engraved in stone and distributed across seventeen sites.
L’Aprenent
Location: Museu dels Sants d’Olot (Girona)
In this case, the experience allows users to immerse themselves in the world of a religious sculpture apprentice in an Olot workshop. Guided by an audio narration available in four languages (Catalan, Spanish, English, and French), visitors explore the workshop and are presented with a challenge to discover the artist within.
The experience combines playful and educational elements, allowing users of all ages to learn and enjoy a more enriching visit. Utilizing MetaQuest2 VR headsets, the combination of 360-degree video and interactive virtual reality allows users to become apprentices, experiencing the entire process of creating a religious sculpture following the techniques and traditions of master artisans.
Heritage and Museum Dissemination with Virtual Reality
Extended Reality has revolutionized the way cultural institutions, such as museums and historical sites, interact with their visitors. This technology has completely transformed the communication channel and the consumption experience, playing a fundamental role in how we immerse ourselves in culture and history.
Thanks to her work, we can now explore historical environments immersively and experience things that were previously only possible in our imaginations. The popularity of engaging resources like Siega Verde and L'Aprenent demonstrates that the implementation of immersive resources is well-received and actively sought after by visitors, due to the memorable experiences they create.