Bringing Archives to Life: Designing an AI Module for Dynamic VR Experiences from Archival Photographs

Abstract

This paper presents a design-focused approach to creating an AI-enhanced module that transforms archival photographs into dynamic virtual reality (VR) experiences. The project addresses the need for immersive access to cultural heritage while avoiding premature claims about historical accuracy. The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) serves as a testbed due to its metadata-rich photographic collection, institutional scale, and proximity. The system integrates open-source AI tools for depth estimation and mesh generation, guided by structured archival metadata. A participatory design methodology involving archivists, historians, users, and UX designers and AI developers informs ethical parameters and usability considerations. As a work in progress, the project contributes a replicable framework for heritage institutions interested in developing responsible, metadata-driven immersive systems grounded in archival values.