A Case Study of Museum Exhibition

-Historical Learning in Copan Ruins of Mayan Civilization-

Tomohiro Tanikawa1, Makoto Ando1, Yankang Wang1, Kazuhiro Yoshida2,

Jun Yamashita3, Hideaki Kuzuoka4, Michitaka Hirose3
1
Telecommunications Advancement Organization of Japan, 2EXA Corporation
3
The University of Tokyo, 4University of Tsukuba
{tani,ando,ykwang}@cyber.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp, kazuhiro-yoshida@exa-corp.co.jp
kuzuoka@kuzuoka-lab.esys.tsukuba.ac.jp, {jun,hirose}@cyber.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Abstract teacher guides kindergartners. In the case of a guided

We developed and operated an exhibition system
which satisfies two requirements of a museum
exhibition simultaneously: compatibility between
personalization of the information and handling of
high attendance, and flexibility to accommodate the
visitor's desired degree of interactiveness for acquiring
knowledge. To realize this feature, we used the
Excursion Metaphor concept to integrate different
exhibition methods into a single system. In this paper,
we present our Scalable VR architecture which
integrates different types of VR systems, and the
implementation of our exhibition system based on
Scalable VR architecture.
tour service in a museum, a guide explains exhibits to
the group he or she is leading. In this case, it is not
necessary to force a participant to concentrate on the
particular exhibit which the guide is explaining. If a
participant becomes interested in another nearby
exhibit, he may leave the tour group temporarily to
take a closer look at it. By adopting this metaphor, it is
considered possible to realize an integrated exhibition
system that has wide interactiveness and wide
acceptability of attendance.

1. Introduction
In a museum, VR technologies are expected to
enhance the function and usability of a museum. Some
advanced museums have started to digitalize many
types of information concerning their own collections
and to construct a virtual museum by using sensing
and information technologies. However, the purpose of
museums is not only to display rare objects to
interested people, but also to convey knowledge to the
public by enabling the research and investigation of
natural and historical subjects. In a museum exhibition
using VR technologies, we should provide the same
level of interactivity and capability for communication
as a conventional exhibit.
2. Concept of Excursion Metaphor
We use the term Excursion Metaphor to describe
a user interface which provides a wide range of modes
of use from passive to interactive. Figure 1 shows the
Excursion Metaphor concept. The system that presents
information in accordance with a theme can be
compared to an excursion in which a kindergarten
Figure 1: Excursion Metaphor
3. Case Study of Excursion Metaphor
Based on our concept, the Excursion Metaphor,
we implemented and demonstrated three case study,
for the special exhibition of MAYA -Kingdoms of
Mystery-[1], held from March to May 2003 at the
National Science Museum, Tokyo. We classified the
required function of the museum exhibition onto two
axes: compatibility between personalization of
information and handling of high attendance, and
flexibility to accommodate the visitor's desired degree
of interactiveness for acquiring knowledge (figure 2).
To enhancing these functions of the museum
exhibition, we implemented and demonstrated the
following different types of exhibition methodologies.
3.1 Gallery Talk in VR Theater
In sightseeing areas, many tourists participate in
guided sightseeing tours. In such guided tours, tour
participants can not only listen to their tour guide's

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Proceedings of the 2004 Virtual Reality (VR04) 257

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Figure 2: Map of Real and Virtual Museum Exhibitions

lecture, but can also talk with his/her tour mates, and
check their guidebook according to their interests
(figure 3(a)). In virtual museum exhibitions, we should
provide the same opportunities as they participate in an
actual guided tour.
By using large-scale VR and constructed photo-
realistic VR contents, Virtual Copan, we can provide
the audience with the experience of as if they are in the
Copan ruins [2]. In addition, the tour guide stands in
front of the curved screen and presents the guided tour
as if he/she were guiding the audience in the real Figure 3: Metaphor and Scene of Museum Exhibition
heritage location. The guide interacts with the audience
Thus we installed a theater type VR system and PC-
by observing their reactions and responding to
based VR systems at the same location. In this class,
questions. The gallery talk in the VR theater enables
the teacher controls the theater type VR system, and
many more people to interact with VR contents and
four student groups walk through the Copan ruins and
assimilate information about the exhibition.
complete Mayan quiz by using PC-based VR systems.
3.2 Guided Tour from PC-based VR System
The members of each group cooperate with each other,
Some visitors to a sightseeing area travel
and each group can research independently in their
independently. These travelers walk and look around
own way. Group instruction can provide the
the heritage site with their guidebook, according to
participants with more comprehensive learning.
their own interests (figure 3(b)). Such travelers often
have a deeper interest and a stronger motivation to
learn about the heritage, and want to acquire fuller 4. Conclusion
knowledge as well as to travel more freely than
To implement the virtual museum exhibition, we
participants in a guided tour. In virtual museum
proposed a novel concept, the Excursion Metaphor,
exhibitions, we should also accommodate such visitors.
which can complement a real museum exhibition
Thus, we set up PC-based VR systems in the waiting
without reducing the educational effect. On the basis
room of the VR theater. In addition, we connected PC-
of this concept, we integrated different types of VR
based VR systems located in three distant places,
systems by using Scalable VR architecture[3]. By
through the Internet. In this case study, the PC-based
augmenting real museum exhibitions with interactivity
VR system user can interact and communicate with the
and the capability for communication, our concept
guide and other participants of the guided tour
enables a more effective and impressive learning
regardless of location. The guided tour using PC-
experience than a conventional museum exhibition. In
based VR systems can provide user interactivity, and
the future, museums will be able to provide customized
also, users can participate in the guided tour from a
exhibitions according to the visitors purpose, interests
remote location at any time.
and motivations, by integrating real exhibitions with
3.3 Group Learning
many kinds of virtual museum exhibitions.
In a museum, an activity such as group learning is
important way of conveying knowledge to children. In [1] National Science Museum Tokyo. MAYA -Kingdoms of
the field of education, it is well known that Mystery-, http://www.kahaku.go.jp/special/past/maya/.
collaborative problem solving in the course of [2] M. Ando. Networked vr for virtual heritage. Proc. of HCII2003,
vol.3, pp.1386-1390, 2003.
discussions and division of tasks between groups are [3] T. Tanikawa. Implementation of a scalable virtual environment.
very important (figure 3(c)). Proc. of HCII2003, vol.3, pp.1446-1450, 2003.

Proceedings of the 2004 Virtual Reality (VR04) 258

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