Augmented perception of the past: The case of the Telamon from the Greek Theater of Syracuse

Abstract

The paper presents a system of real-time interaction with ancient artifacts digitally restored in a virtual environment in which the perception of reality is augmented, through the provision of the visual data missing in the current conditions of the artifacts themselves. The application of this system will be through common mobile devices, like the Apple Iphone. The case study for this project is a Late Classical Greek statue of a Telamon from the Theater of Syracuse. Since the statue is subject to constant degradation, a virtual replica was created through the application of laser scanning techniques. Once the 3D model of the Telamon was produced, a process of digital restoration based on archetypes and photographic documentation of the statue was carried out. Then, the commercial framework for mobile devices, ARToolworks, was used for developing Augmented Reality applications. Using a pattern that is recognized by the device, a three-dimensional model is associated to that pattern and the virtual model is shown as it is in the real world. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.