Through this semester, I learned many of the benefits and challenges of digital heritage.

Undoubtedly, the biggest benefit digital heritage brings is it’s ability to preserve and capture items at it’s current state to transcend time and space. This means even long after the physical items turns into dust, through wear and tear, we still can view the item digitally and even recreate the item with our technology through its 3D model. Also by preserving these assets digitally, we can study, view, and analyze them through a computer without the risk of damaging it. Researchers can zoom in on intricate details, run objects through a simulation, and view the object in a different perspective all on a computer without ever seeing the physical object in person. Digital replicas, through virtual or augmented reality, can be interacted with in ways not possible with the physical objects alone. Museums are able to set up more interactive experiences for visitors to connect with their collection, allowing them to engage in 3D objects freely while preserving the original objects (Cooper 2019).

Through digitizing them, we are now able to share these materials to any person in any place with digital access. Expanding the accessibility of heritage allows more people to learn and understand more about their heritage than ever before with more quality knowledge and smaller costs (Bekele). The digital cultural heritage is now being used for many different purposes such as education, exhibition, enhancement, exploration, reconstruction, and virtual museums. The once nearly inaccessible Machu Picchu only seen in Peru can now be seen right on our screens through out fingertips without all of the physical constrains. Not only does the digital cultural heritage open up access for many people, but it lets us use our objects for future generations to come.

Some of the challenges with digital heritage comes is costs. The equipment and programs used to digitize heritage can be expensive, especially when considering the specialized people required to preserve things digitally. Not only this, but there are upkeeping costs such as where to store files, it’s backups, and protecting the security of these items. Although digital heritage files cheaper to reproduce and share, with further quality resolution of these items, they become exponentially costly to store. For example, with the attractiveness of 3D printing in its innovation and engaging experiences with objects that cannot be freely handled, museums have yet to fully engage with this technology given the cost of production, and its effectiveness in offering a meaningful experience.

One issue with 3D printing is the large amount of waste and emissions created. FDM printers often creates lots of waste due to its printing process and from frequent failed prints. Though in theory the materials used in FDM printers, they are rarely able to be properly recycled or reused, ending up in landfills. Also, many different printers emit gasses that can be harmful to the environment and to its users. While many challenges remain, with new recycle solutions and emission reduction can pave a way for more sustainable 3D printing.

With new technologies and innovations emerging, we must carefully consider both challenges and benefits for the success of cultural heritage.

References:

Bekele, M. K., Pierdicca, R., Frontoni, E., Malinverni, E. S., & Gain, J. (2018, March 22). A Survey of Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality for Cultural Heritage. Association for Computing Machinery. https://dl-acm-org.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/doi/10.1145/3145534

Cooper, C. (2019). You Can Handle It: 3D Printing for Museums. Advances in Archaeological Practice, 7(4), 443-447. https://doi-org.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/10.1017/aap.2019.39