Be Our Guest: Intercultural Heritage Exchange through Augmented Reality (AR)

Document Title

Be Our Guest: Intercultural Heritage Exchange through Augmented Reality (AR)

Document Information

• Subject Area: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Cultural Heritage Exchange, Augmented Reality Applications
• Keywords: HCI, migration, culture, cultural heritage, exchange, augmented reality, AR, immersive theater, exploration

Research Background and Issues

• What problems or challenges did the authors identify?

  • Cultural differences between immigrants and host communities, as well as among immigrants from different backgrounds, may lead to opposition and tension, hindering social integration.
  • Current HCI research on migration primarily focuses on one-way communication needs (e.g., language learning and employment assistance), with limited discussion on two-way interaction and cultural exchange among immigrants from different backgrounds.
  • There is a lack of effective tools to facilitate positive relationship-building, communication, and mutual respect.

• Why is this issue important?

  • Social integration is a critical pathway to achieving harmony in multi-ethnic nations (e.g., immigrant countries like Canada). Enhancing interaction and understanding among cultures helps reduce conflict and promotes cultural diversity.

• Research Motivation and Related Work

  • The authors aim to address the research gap in interaction and cultural exchange between immigrants and host communities.
  • Case studies and technological tools (e.g., augmented reality) are increasingly used for cultural exchange (e.g., platforms like Google Arts and Culture). However, these tools either lean towards entertainment rather than deep learning or lack features for two-way cultural interaction.

Solution

• What methods or solutions did the authors propose?

  • Developed an augmented reality (AR) application called "Be Our Guest," allowing users to explore household scenes from different cultural backgrounds and simulate appropriate behaviors related to cultural rituals.
  • Incorporated immersive theater and narrative techniques to present cultural rituals through real stories, enabling users to participate in interactive activities to learn and experience other cultures.

• What are the innovative aspects of this solution?

  • Combines augmented reality technology with immersive theater to create a virtual intermediary space, avoiding direct conversations about cultural differences that might cause discomfort.
  • Supports two-way interaction: cultural sharing between immigrants and host communities, as well as among immigrants from different backgrounds.
  • Encourages users to participate as themselves, making the interaction personal and authentic.
  • Integrates virtual and real environments, guiding cultural exploration through object-centered interactions and simple interactive tasks.

• What are the implementation steps and key technologies used?

  • Story Collection and Script Creation: Gathered cultural stories from participants and transformed them into scenarios.
  • System Design: Built the user interaction experience based on "adaptive cognitive theory," "immersive theater," and "affordance theory."
  • Technical Implementation: Designed AR scenes using Unity and Vuforia engines. Users can detect objects with their smartphone cameras to load virtual scenes.
  • User Behavior Design: Designed interactive tasks based on cultural contexts (e.g., pouring tea, setting up a scene).
  • User Testing: Collected feedback through observation and semi-structured interviews to optimize the experience.

Research Outcomes

• What specific outcomes were achieved?

  • The AR application provided an immersive experience, with participants finding the scenes enjoyable and perceiving them as realistic.
  • The application enhanced users' understanding of other cultures while also prompting reflection on their own culture.
  • Most participants found the cultural scene interactions enjoyable and reported experiencing interactivity and authenticity through the program.

• What advantages does it have over existing solutions?

  • Enables two-way communication instead of one-way cultural information transmission.
  • The dramatized augmented reality experience deepens interaction between users and objects, fostering multi-sensory engagement.
  • Users can experience different cultures in the comfort of their own homes without needing to visit real locations.

• What were the experimental or evaluation results?

  • During user testing, participants generally found the application engaging and effective in teaching cultural customs. The application also deepened users' understanding of cultural differences and reduced the anxiety of encountering unfamiliar cultures.
  • The application was recommended for use in museums, educational centers, and organizations serving immigrants.

• Limitations and Future Directions

  • Limitations:
    • Creating scenes requires significant time and technical resources, limiting the application's scalability.
    • Cultural rituals may vary regionally, and standardization could lead to misunderstandings.
  • Future Directions:
    • Enable users to contribute their own cultural stories through crowdsourcing to expand the diversity of scenes and content.
    • Improve technical performance, such as using larger-screen AR devices and increasing scene details.
    • Design interactive stories where user experiences diverge based on their participation.

Conclusion

This study provides a new perspective on the use of augmented reality technology in cultural exchange, demonstrating how the combination of AR and immersive theater can help establish cultural connections between immigrants and host communities. The document further suggests that with broader user participation, AR technology could become a powerful tool for promoting cross-cultural exchange in a globalized context.