CubeMuseum: An Augmented Reality Prototype of Embodied Virtual Museum

An Augmented Reality (AR) prototype, CubeMuseum, is proposed in this paper to present an embodied experience with virtual museum collections. With a cost-effective cube and a smartphone application, users can view and interact with 3D museum objects embodied on the cube. Detailed design of the prototype is presented to illustrate the approaches to visualize, present, and interact with virtual objects. CubeMuseum has been evaluated by hundreds of users in both laboratory studies and public exhibitions. The results indicated that the prototype is simple yet effective. It demonstrates several benefits and potential implications in supporting user engagement and learning experience. This research provides insights to researchers and practitioners in designing interactive cultural heritage experiences using a cost-effective approach.