Remote touch interaction with high quality models using an autostereoscopic 3D display

Abstract

The use of 3D models to document archaeological findings witnessed to boost in the latest years, mainly thanks to the large adoption of digital photogrammetry for the virtual reconstruction of ancient artifatcs. For this reason, the widespread availability of digital 3D objects obliges the research community to face with a hard challenge: which is the best way for allowing visitors being in contact with the real estate of cultural goods? The work described in these pages answers to these questions by describing a novel solution for the enhanced interaction and visualization of a complex 3D model. The installation consists in an autostereoscopic display paired with a remotely connected (with a wired connection) touch-pad for the interaction with the contents displayed in it. The main advantage of using such technology is represented by the fact that one is not obliged to wear cumbersome devices but at the same time one can have a 3D view of the object without any additional aid. The system allows, through a touch-pad, to manage the 3D views and interact with a very small object that in its virtual dimension is magnified with respect to a classical museum arrangement. The research results, applied to the real case exhibition presented, have proved the innovation and usability of the multimedia solutions, which required the use of complex hardware components and a tricky implementation of the whole software architecture. The digital disruption in the CH domain should be also entrusted in the use of advanced interfaces that at the same time are intuitive and usable interaction methods.