The meSch project aims to connect physical museum experiences with online digital cultural heritage content through novel interactive exhibits. It will provide a platform for museums to create "smart exhibits" that enrich physical artifacts with digital information without requiring specialized technical knowledge. Several prototype interactive exhibits are proposed, including an app using location data to navigate exhibits, an interactive torch to explore exhibits layer by layer through pointing, and augmented reality apps to overlay 3D models on objects. The goal is to make exhibits more dynamic, contextualized and immersive through multi-layered narratives and interaction.

1. Material Encounters with Digital Cultural Heritage
MCI Group, University of Stuttgart, Germany
Abstract
meSch, Material EncounterS with digital Cultural Heritage, has the goal of designing, developing and deploying tools
for the creation of tangible interactive experiences that will connect the physical experience of museums and
exhibitions with relevant digital cross-media information in novel ways. A wealth of digital cultural heritage content is
currently available in on-line repositories and archives, it is however accessed only in a limited way and utilised through
rather static modes of delivery. meSch will bridge the gap between visitors’ cultural heritage experience on-site and
on-line by providing a platform for the creation of tangible smart exhibits, that will enable heritage professionals to
compose and realise physical artifacts enriched by digital content without the need for specialised technical
knowledge.
Museological Challenges:
Point. Explore. Learn.
• From object oriented to contextualization
• From one dominant story to many layers of
meaning
• From permanent to dynamic presentation
• Know thy user
• Immersiveness
• Interaction
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Location-based Exhibit Navigation
Augmented Realities in Museums
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Android app
WLAN fingerprints
Dynamic updates
CMS for curators
Gamification layer
Physical Affordances for Checkins
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Entice visitors to ‚check-in‘ into exhibits
Provide a ‚take-away‘
Form factor and interactivity
User-worn devices:
Smartphone, bracelet, ring
• RFID via .NET Gadgeteer
Interactive Torch
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Explore exhibits, bit by bit
Multiple narrative layers
Pointing reveals information
Nintentdo Wii Remote
Gamification layer
Tilman Dingler, hcilab.org
Exhibits sensitive to touch
Explore objects by pointing
3D model overlay
LeapMotion for tracking
Reconstruct damaged
exhibits
• See-through apps
• Augment objects with their
3D model for exploration
• Multiple narrative layers
• Exhibits itself as markers
• Interactive POIs