Person scanning a QR code on marker on a stele to launch The Liberation AR experience

Memorials

How Holocaust research can be conveyed to future generations in a contemporary way.

The Dachau concentration camp memorial is the most visited memorial in Germany, with over 800,000 visitors each year. It is both a place of remembrance and a place of learning. Augmented reality helps to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive at this memorable place and gives young people in particular direct access to the past.

Innovative Digital Mediation

Using AR opens up the possibility of conveying history in a captivating way and thus raising awareness of historical significance.

AR technology helps keep memories of memorable events alive in the place where they took place

Young target groups in particular are given multimedia and experiential access to the past.

A visitor pointing her phone on the wall of Dachau Concentration Camp's memorial to launch an augmented reality experience.

Why AR for memorials?

Augmented reality tours can be used as an innovative addition to educational programs. School classes and educational institutions benefit from an interactive and exciting way of conveying historical teaching content.

Audio guides can be supplemented with AR navigation with visual content at the original locations to create exciting multimedia experiences.

The addition of gamified elements can further deepen the engagement with the historical content.

Barrier-free

AR can provide detailed 3D models that show the memorial from different angles, allowing visitors to see areas that are physically difficult to access.

New opportunities for digital mediation for young target groups: Memorial sites can use ZAUBAR to support educational programs in innovative ways. School classes and educational institutions can benefit from a more interactive and engaging learning experience.‍AR can provide AI and location-based audio descriptions that detail the visual environment and exhibits for visually impaired visitors.

AR-based navigation aids can help visitors with mobility restrictions navigate the memorial by showing the best route and pointing out barriers.

A visitor pointing his tablet to an empty room in an exhibition space to reveal volumetric holograms of time witnesses.

FAQ

What are some augmented reality (AR) projects examples at memorials?

Here are some memorial and cultural heritage sites using augmented reality (AR) to enhance immersion and interactivity:

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site has two AR offerings: (1) The Liberation AR, (2) ARt Dachau: Dachau Concentration Camp in Drawings.
Berlin Hohenschönhausen Memorial Site: In Forced Community (Permanent Exhibition)
Stolpersteine: Stumbling Stones are displayed in larger form in augmented reality.

How is augmented reality (AR) used in cultural heritage sites?

Augmented reality can be used by cultural heritage sites to deliver content on demand, enhance visitor experience, and preserve the authenticity. Below are some examples:

Overlaying historical images onto real-world environments.
Providing on-location storytelling to enhance visitor engagement.
Delivering multimedia on-demand, without overwhelming the visitor with extra content, including historical documents, photos, and videos.
Create selfie stations for visitors to commemorate their visit.
Make cultural heritage sites more appealing and interactive for younger audiences.
Preserving the authenticity of the historical site or memorial by avoiding installing posters, infodesks, kiosks, or infoboards.

Why should memorial and cultural heritage sites use AR instead of VR?

Memorial and cultural heritage sites should use AR instead of VR because of the following reasons:

AR enhances on-site experiences, making it easier to increase visitor count and manage ticketing.
AR works on mobile devices, eliminating the need for expensive headsets.
AR allows visitors to experience the significance of memorials directly at the location, unlike remote VR experiences.