The Mediated Window: Enabling remote presence to cultural heritage sites

Authors:

Charlie Gullström, Royal Institute of Technology, School of Architecure and the Built environment, Stockholm, Sweden
Leif Handberg, Royal Institute of Technology, School of Computer Science and Communication, Stockholm, Sweden
Katherine Hauptman Wahlgren, The Museum of National Antiquities, Stockholm, Sweden
Fredrik Svanberg, The Museum of National Antiquities, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract:

Based on a case-study where a museum was extended to an archaeological excavation site in Stockholm, Sweden, this paper addresses the potential for increased public access to cultural heritage sites by means of video mediated communications. A recently
formed interdisciplinary research group representing skills in designing mediated environments as well as public archaeology have carried out the study in the summer of 2008. A "Mediated Window" was designed for the occasion, enabling visitors to remotely experience presence and interact between two locations, thus creating an architectural, mediated extension of space. Preliminary results confirm that presence in mediated spaces is to a high degree dependent on eye contact, can be achieved inexpensively but that many different design variables and illusory techniques borrowed from film, architecture and theatre must be addressed in designing presence. The paper argues that such new design contexts require combined skills in architectural design, user interaction and media technology. Results also show that large numbers of visitors, but also new categories of visitors, can be reached when mediated communication is applied to cultural heritage contexts, in combination with public activities outside museum buildings.

The Mediated Museum pilot study in 2008 included the design concept for "The Mediated Window" enabling eye contact across time and space. Copyright Gullström & Handberg 2008

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