Emotional ties to cultural heritage show strongest link to digital museum engagement
Museums are increasingly using digital technologies to create more interactive and accessible experiences for visitors. Technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) digital models, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) allow visitors to explore artifacts in new ways, both online and during visits to physical museums.
A recent study published in the ACM Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage has found that emotional connections to cultural heritage are the strongest predictor of digital museum engagement. Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo investigated the factors influencing visitors' willingness to engage with digital exhibitions at a regional museum in Japan, and discovered that emotional authenticity plays a central role in encouraging people to engage with digital cultural experiences.
The study evaluated visitor experiences with a digital exhibition of the Atelier and Jibutsudo at the Ryushi Memorial Museum, using four technology-related factors and three types of authenticity to assess the impact of digital technologies on visitor engagement. The findings offer new insights for regional museums seeking to maximize cultural impact with limited resources, and provide practical guidance to inspire visitor participation and long-term engagement.
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