Reimagining the museum experience using augmented reality: A focus on a Namibian museum

This study seeks to revolutionize the museum experience in Namibia through the implementation of AR Specifically, a focus was made on the National Museum of Namibia and developed an AR mobile application using ARKit and Reality Composer on the iOS platform. To gain a deeper understanding of traditional museum visits, an online survey was conducted which was targeted at various participants from different geographical areas, totaling 63 respondents. Background: The researcher's exploration of Namibian museums reveals the prevalence of two primary modes of visitor engagement: self-guided tours and guided tours, the latter often customized to suit the preferences and interests of international tourists. During personal visits, visitors typically rely on brief summary notes next to artifacts for supplementary information. Guided tours, while informative, often prioritize group interests, limiting individual exploration. Methodology: In this study, a mixed research design was employed to craft a software-based solution and gather insights from our target audience. By combining quantitative data from surveys with qualitative feedback from interviews and observations during AR application usage, we sought to gain a comprehensive understanding of user perspectives. Findings: This research unveiled that most museum goers had little to no prior exposure to AR applications during their museum visits, indicating an untapped potential for enhancing museum engagement through technology. The development and testing of the AR mobile application generated excitement among users, who expressed keen interest in additional features and interactive models. One challenge, however, was the application’s exclusivity to iOS devices, as it required iOS 13 or newer for full AR functionality. This limited the ability to collect feedback from a broader range of users. ii This study signifies a significant stride in reshaping museum experiences in Namibia. By leveraging Augmented Reality, the aim is to elevate visitor engagement, facilitate knowledge acquisition, nurture meaningful interactions, and forge emotional connections with museum exhibits. To extend the reach and impact of AR-enhanced experiences, exploring cross-platform compatibility to engage a wider audience is recommended

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Namibia

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Chanakira, Tatenda Audrey

• Augmented Reality
• iOS
• Namibia
• Museum experience
• Mixed research design
• AR mobile application
• Reality Kit

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3879

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.unam.edu.na:11070/3879