Research

New ways of exploring the past

Published 17 May 2012

A taste of the museums of the future is on display at the premier event in the cultural heritage calendar in London in May.

A day of seminars sponsored by 3D-COFORM (Tools and Expertise for 3D Collection Formation), an international partnership coordinated by the University of Brighton, is taking place at the Museums and Heritage Show at Earl's Court on 17 May. The project also has a stand at the show where visitors can see and discuss the project's work.

The seminars will cover everything from heritage organisations working with creative industries for mutual benefit, to using 3D technology on mobile devices such as iPads.

Heritage in the digital age

Mike Loveday, Chief Executive, Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust, will speak about the HistOracle project which aims to use digital technologies, including computer games engines, to bring research on 12 historical buildings in the Norwich area, including the only surviving medieval friary, to a new public audience.

Mike Spearman of CMC Associates will review potential applications and services that new digital technologies could offer to heritage organisations and to creative industries that base products, from films to computer games, around heritage themes.

James Stevenson from the V&A will describe how the museum has been experimenting with 3D digitisation.

Roberto Scopigno and Eliana Siotto from the ISTI-CNR Institute of the National Research, Italy, will talk about how museums and heritage sites might use digital content, including 3D, on mobile devices such as tablets or smart phones. Mike Stapleton, CEO of Systems Simulation Ltd will speak about The Decipher Project and how to link content from a curator's own organisation with that available from the internet.

3D-COFORM is funded by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme and is a collaboration of researchers, including experts from computer science, the arts and business, drawn from across the university and 18 other partners.

The aim of the project is to develop effective methods for 3D documentation and to create a European Virtual Centre of Competence in 3D digitisation (VCC-3D) involving the university and other members of the 3D-COFORM's consortium.

The project advisory board includes members from UNESCO World Heritage, the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Louvre, The Berlin State Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Royal Belgian Museums.

You can download video examples of the projects 3D-COFORM is working on.

The project is mounting a major exhibition of 3D technologies and cultural heritage applications in Brighton from July 27–August 25.