Augmented Reality and Wearable Technology for Cultural Heritage Preservation

Abstract

The main goal of this study is to provide a more interactive experience with AR technology and wearable devices compared to traditional preservation methods in order to protect, promote, and transfer cultural heritage to future generations. It aims to evaluate the usability of the developed AR application with SUS and WARUS analyses. During the research process, similar studies were conducted, street texture and historical buildings were examined, 3D models were created with terrestrial laser scanning, and an AR application was developed with the Unity3D program and presented for user evaluation. The findings of this research show that users can access historical and cultural information interactively, and that presenting historical places interactively contributes to conservation efforts by allowing users to gain more in-depth information. In the discussion section of this paper, the opportunities and limitations offered by AR technology and the wearable device through the ARKON application are discussed in a sustainable way in terms of usability. According to the research results, while usability analyses showed that user satisfaction was high, no significant difference was observed according to gender in the similar age group.