How WebAR is Making Heritage Experiences More Accessible

Hello, history lovers and tech fans! 🎉 Have you ever wished you could travel back in time and see history come alive? With WebAR, that dream is coming true, making heritage experiences more exciting than ever!

Augmented reality has surged in popularity in recent years. By the near future, experts anticipate that the number of mobile AR users worldwide will reach 1.7 billion, a massive increase from just 200 million in 2015. Additionally, the extended reality (XR) market, which encompasses AR, virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR), is forecasted to skyrocket, growing from $30 billion to an impressive $300 billion by this year. With this rapid expansion, WebAR is poised to transform the way we experience cultural heritage.

What is WebAR?

WebAR stands for Web-based Augmented Reality. Imagine this: you're at a historic site, and instead of just reading about it, your phone brings it to life! With WebAR, there's no need to download apps or deal with complicated tech. Just open your web browser, and you're ready to explore history in a new way.

Solving Tourism Problems

Tourism is a huge industry, and visiting cultural heritage sites lets people experience unique historical places. But many of these sites are old and can get damaged by too many visitors. The pandemic has also made people hesitant to travel, causing a 66% drop in visits to World Heritage sites in 2020. AR can help solve these problems by letting people visit these sites virtually, reducing physical and environmental impact.

The Accessibility Advantage

WebAR is making heritage more accessible. For instance, the British Museum in London offers a WebAR experience that lets you directly explore ancient artefacts in 3D from your browser. Similarly, the Acropolis Museum in Athens uses WebAR to revive ancient Greek statues, showcasing them in their original, vibrant colours. This inclusivity is vital, as approximately 15% of the world's population, or over 1 billion people, live with some form of disability.

• Inclusive Experiences

WebAR isn’t just cool tech; it’s also about being inclusive. Features like adjustable text sizes, audio descriptions, and customizable visuals make sure everyone can enjoy the experience, no matter their needs.

• No App Needed

One of the best things about WebAR is that you don't need to download any apps. Just use your smartphone or tablet, open your browser, and you're in! This means no waiting for updates or worrying about storage space.  With 3.8 billion smartphone users worldwide, the potential reach of WebAR is immense.

• Fun and Interactive

WebAR makes learning about history fun and interactive. You're not just looking at artifacts; you're engaging with them in exciting ways.

5G Technology

While WebAR has limitations, such as performance issues and the need for a stable internet connection, the advent of 5G technology is minimising these drawbacks. 5G offers significantly higher data speeds, resulting in smoother and more responsive AR experiences without lag or buffering. Enhanced connectivity ensures that more people can enjoy these experiences simultaneously, which is crucial for high-traffic sites and events.

The Future of WebAR

The possibilities with WebAR are endless. Imagine future experiences with even better 3D models, interactive stories, and real-time data that make historical tours even more dynamic. As technology improves, WebAR will keep pushing the limits, offering new ways to connect with our cultural heritage.

At SENSEcity, we’re excited about how WebAR is changing heritage experiences, making them more accessible and fun. We’ve even taken it further with our own Historiscope, a unique Augmented Reality viewing scope designed to transform visits to heritage sites. Learn more about it here.

Get in Touch!

If you're curious about how WebAR or Historiscope can bring your heritage site to life, or if you want to chat about the future of immersive experiences, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us today and let’s explore how we can create unforgettable experiences together. 🌟📱🚀