Augmented reality for mobile devices in support of museums

Abstract

We describe the development, implementation and evaluation of MUSUNABAR, an augmented reality (AR) application for Android mobile devices. It has been particularly intended to use in heritage and culture areas specifically for the living room archeology GUANE in the Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga-UNAB. This application is based on geo-referencing and image recognition from real environment images, to act as markers. Once they are associated with virtual information (3D models, 2D models and videos) the
application allows interacting in real time.

The main objective was to create an application for mobile devices in the area of heritage and culture. In addition we evaluated the usability, effectiveness and efficiency of the use of AR on mobile devices through the Model Quality Mobile Software.

Results obtained by the users, after using this technology, and by questionnaires responses, demonstrated the application suitability as a new tool to be used in heritage and culture processes.