Mobile Augmented Reality for Cultural Heritage: Following the Footsteps of Ovid Among Different Locations in Europe

sustainability Article Mobile Augmented Reality for Cultural Heritage: Following the Footsteps of Ovid among Different Locations in Europe Răzvan Gabriel Boboc 1,*, Mihai Duguleană 1 , Gheorghe-Daniel Voinea 1, Cristian-Cezar Postelnicu 1, Dorin-Mircea Popovici 2 and Marcello Carrozzino 3 1 Department of Automotive and Transport Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, RO-500036 Brasov, Romania; [email protected] (M.D.); [email protected] (G.D.V.); [email protected] (C.-C.P.) 2 Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Ovidius University of Constanta, 8700 Constanta, Romania; [email protected] 3 Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +40-745-987-710 Received: 31 January 2019; Accepted: 18 February 2019; Published: 22 February 2019 Abstract: There are many examples of cultural events that distinguish people nationally. Celebrating this can bring people closer, as inhabitants of different countries share similar cultural values. This study investigates a sustainable way to enhance these types of events. On the occasion of the 2000-year anniversary of the death of the Roman poet Ovid, we propose a mobile augmented reality (MAR) application that contains historical information related to his life. As Ovid often stated in his last poems, he feared his work would be forgotten after his exile from Rome. This paper focuses on assessing whether this is the case, while also disseminating factual, historic data to people who tested the application. Experiments were conducted in Italy and Romania, in three different cities: Sulmona, Rome, and Constanta. Based on the results collected, four constructs were investigated: comprehensibility, manipulability, enjoyment, and usefulness. The results revealed that the usability of the MAR application, and the interaction metaphor, are appropriate for the general public. The MAR application provided a positive experience, and thus, increased the extent of the occasion. Keywords: augmented reality; mobile phones; cultural heritage; evaluation 1. Introduction The development of technology during the last decades has allowed the implementation of new ways of interacting between people and computers. The progress of digital information has also significantly affected the evolution of cultural heritage (CH) dissemination [1], offering new possibilities for developing, e.g., the market of tourist services [2]. Whether it is a mobile application, an online catalog, or a social media exchange, these new paradigms are affecting all aspects of our lives, reshaping the way we communicate, learn, and approach the world around us [3]. One of these technologies that offers new ways of interacting is augmented reality (AR). This technology has a tremendous potential for the promotion and preservation of CH. People are starting to be receptive—they want social and collaborative experiences that combine learning with having fun. CH organizations have to address their needs by creating innovative applications [4], and AR and mixed reality can make this happen. Computers have become more accessible and cheap enough for widespread applications in various fields [5]. CH can take advantage of this development by Sustainability 2019, 11, 1167; doi:10.3390/su11041167 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2019, 11, 1167 2 of 20 bringing cultural vestiges to light with the help of systems that can integrate computer-generated digital information with the physical world. AR technology gives a different perception of reality, as it enriches reality with a computer-generatedSustainability 2019, 11, x layer FOR PEER containing REVIEW visual, audio, and tactile information. In this way,2 any of 22 object can be recreated and used as content for AR applications. Using a ‘virtual’ representation of a classic museumAR item technology has several gives advantages: a different itperception may incorporate of reality, dynamic as it enriche elements,s reality and with it a allows computer access- to generated layer containing visual, audio, and tactile information. In this way, any object can be aspects of the artifact that may otherwise be hidden [6]. However, in order to build a complete and recreated and used as content for AR applications. Using a ‘virtual’ representation of a classic complex cultural representation via digital heritage technologies, developers must also understand museum item has several advantages: it may incorporate dynamic elements, and it allows access to how usersaspects interact of the artifact with the that system may otherwise or interface be hidden [5]. When [6]. However, designing in AR order applications, to build a complete it is important and to choosecomplex the best cultural combination represent ofation techniques via digital for heritage presenting technologies, the appropriate develope electronicrs must also information understand to the users.how The users content interact must with meet the theirsystem interests or interface and [ needs5]. When in orderdesigning to be AR accepted applications, [7]. Thus,it is important the usability evaluationto choose of ARthe best applications combination is ofof primetechniques concern. for presenting Since AR the is appropriate a relatively electr newonic technology, information there to are few papersthe users. that The address content the must evaluation meet their of ARinterests interfaces, and need ands furthermore,in order to be theiraccepted sustainability [7]. Thus, the in cases suchusability as the one evaluation presented of AR in thisapplications paper. Foris of thisprime reason, concern. we Since have AR developed is a relatively an ARnew application technology, with the aimthere of investigatingare few papers its usability,that address taking the intoevaluation account of perceptual AR interfaces and, ergonomicand furthermore, aspects. their sustainability in cases such as the one presented in this paper. For this reason, we have developed an The 2000th anniversary of the death of the Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso, known as Ovid, AR application with the aim of investigating its usability, taking into account perceptual and was in 2017. This poet was “one of the most brilliant personalities of the Augustan Age”, as described ergonomic aspects. in [8]. OvidThe was2000th born anniversary in 43 BC, of the in thedeath town of the of Roman Sulmo poet (today: Publius Sulmona), Ovidius Naso, located known in the as Ovid middle, of Italy,was approximately in 2017. This poet 140 was km from“one of Rome. the most He brilliant lived inpersonalities Rome after of histhe Augustan studies, becoming Age”, as describ famoused and appreciatedin [8]. Ovid for was his work.born in After 43 BC, his in the masterpiece, town of Sulmo the (today: “Metamorphoses”, Sulmona), located he was in the exiled middle in of 8 ADItaly, to the isolatedapprox townimately of Tomis 140 km (today: from Constanta,Rome. He Romania),lived in Rome on theafter shore his studies of the, Blackbecoming Sea atfamous the outer and edge of theappreciated Roman Empire. for his work. He was After abruptly his masterpiece, removed the from “Metamorp the stimulatinghoses”, he artistic was exiled and socialin 8 AD community, to the whichisolated had nourished town of Tomis his extraordinarily(today: Constanta, successful Romania), poetic on the career,shore of for the reasons Black Sea which at the wereouter lostedge in the millennia.of the Roman He died Empire. in Tomis He was 9 years abruptly later, removed still hoping from forthe astimulating pardon, which artistic never and social came community [9]. , which had nourished his extraordinarily successful poetic career, for reasons which were lost in the In line with the linguistic community, this anniversary highlights a good opportunity to give millennia. He died in Tomis 9 years later, still hoping for a pardon, which never came [9]. people a variety of ways to remember this great personality, whose vast influence and popularity In line with the linguistic community, this anniversary highlights a good opportunity to give continuespeople to a variety this day of ways [10]. to This remember heritage this should great personality not be lost,, whose yet vast keeping influence it is and not popularity an easy task. The methodologycontinues to this of day this [10 study]. This is heritage based should on bringing not be tolost, life yet some keeping creative it is not moments an easy task from. The Ovid’s existence.methodology We have of this chosen study is three based significant on bringing cities to life for some the creative poet: moments Sulmona, from Rome, Ovid’s and existe Constanta.nce. By meansWe have of chosen AR technologies three significant and cities using for the mobile poet: devices,Sulmona, we’veRome, and created Constanta an application. By means of that AR was presentedtechnologies to the generaland using public. mobile devices, we’ve created an application that was presented to the Ingeneral this pub regard,lic. the application tested had appropriate content for each location: Sulmona, where OvidIn this was regard, born; the Rome, application where hetested has had lived appropriate most of his content life; andfor each Tomis, location: where Sulmona, he died where (Figure 1). Ovid was born; Rome, where he has lived most of his life; and Tomis, where he died (Figure 1). Each Each version of the application recreates some aspects of his life, presenting his 3D animated model in version

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