Comprender lo virtual: conclusiones de un estudio evaluativo sobre reconstrucciones virtuales en los museos arqueológicos

[ES] El objetivo de esta ponencia es presentar las conclusiones de un proyecto de investigación a medio plazo llevado a cabo en distintos museos europeos, con el objetivo de obtener datos empíricos sobre la contribución específica de la Realidad Virtual para la difusión de la Arqueología, su integración desde un punto de vista museográfico y su percepción y uso real por parte del público. La intención última de este proyecto es proporcionar un marco teórico-práctico general para el uso de la Realidad Virtual en el ámbito del patrimonio cultural, en el que se puedan encontrar las bases de su utilidad específica, instrumentos para su evaluación y, sobre todo, guías de diseño para futuras aplicaciones.[EN] This paper aims at presenting the conclusions of a middle-term research project undertaken in several European museums in order to obtain empirical data about the specific contribution of Virtual Reality for the dissemination of Archaeology, its integration in exhibitions and its perception and real use by audiences. The ultimate aim of this research project is to provide a theoretical and practical framework for the use of Virtual Reality in the Cultural Heritage field, in which professionals can find the basis of its specific usefulness, tools for its evaluation and, above all, guidelines for the design of future applications.Los estudios presentados en este artículo han sido financiados por la Generalitat de Catalunya (FI, III Pla de Recerca de Catalunya 2001/2004; Beatriu de Pinós, 2007 BP-A 00059), la Unión Europea (CHIRON: Cultural Heritage Informatics Investigación Oriented Network, 2005-2008, MEST-CT-2004-514539), la Secretaría General de Investigación y Tecnología de Grecia y la British Academy (Visiting Fellowship, VF2008/49113).Pujol Tost, L. (2010). Comprender lo virtual: conclusiones de un estudio evaluativo sobre reconstrucciones virtuales en los museos arqueológicos. Virtual Archaeology Review. 1(1):157-161. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2010.513915716111ECONOMOU, M. y PUJOL, L. (2006): "Educational tool or expensive toy? Evaluating VR evaluation and its relevance for Virtual Heritage", en New Heritage. New media and cultural heritage, Oxon, Routledge.FORTE, M., PESCARIN, S. y PUJOL, L. (2006): "VR applications, new devices and museums: visitors' feedback and learning. A preliminary report", en The e-volution of Information Technology in Cultural Heritage. Where Hi-Tech Touches the Past: Risks and Challenges for the 21st century. Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Virtual reality, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, VAST2006. Full papers volume, Nicosia, Cyprus, Eurographics.GAITATZES, A., CHRISTOPOULOS, D. y ROUSSOU, M. (2001): "Reviving the past: Cultural Heritage meets Virtual Reality", en Virtual Reality, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. Proceedings of the VAST2001 Conference, pp. 103-110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/584993.585011PUJOL, L. (2008): "Does virtual archaeology exist?" en Layers of perception. Advanced technological means to illuminate our past. Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology, CAA2007, Berlin 2-6, 2007, Bonn, Rudolf Habelt GmbH, pp. 101-107.PUJOL, L. y ECONOMOU, M. (2006): "Evaluating the Social Context of ICT Applications in Museum Exhibitions", en The e-volution of Information Technology in Cultural Heritage. Where Hi-Tech Touches the Past: Risks and Challenges for the 21st century. Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Virtual reality, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, VAST2006. Full papers volume, Eurographics, pp. 219-228.PUJOL, L. y ECONOMOU, M. (2007): "Exploring the suitability of Virtual Reality interactivity for exhibitions through an integrated evaluation: the case of the Ename Museum", en Museology, International Scientific Electronic Journal nº 4.PUJOL, L. y ECONOMOU, M. (2008): "Worth a thousand words? The usefulness of immersive virtual reality for learning in cultural heritage settings", en Proceedings of the 14th Conference on Virtual Systems and Multimedia (VSMM08), Limassol, VSMM, Full papers volume, pp. 287-295.PUJOL, L. y SUREDA, M. (2008): "Vers une réalité virtuelle véritablement intéractive", en Actes du Colloque Virtual Retrospect 2007, Bordeaux, Ausonius Editions, 3, pp. 77-81.VOM LEHN, D., HEATH, C. y HINDMARSH, J. (2005): "Rethinking interactivity: design for participation in museums and galleries", en Re-thinking Technolgy in Museums: Towards a New Understanding of People's Experience in Museums, Limerick, Ireland