The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) in Springfield, Illinois is joining forces with Google to digitally transform the visitor experience.
The presidential museum will develop engaging and interactive experiences for visitors using artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR).
XR will be utilised to provide additional layers of information on museums exhibits, allow guests to choose which topics to explore in more detail, and offer more languages and formats for an accessible experience.
The museum will also look into features such as interactive audiovisual guides, video content around displayed artefacts, and an “immersive, gamified, and photorealistic experience” for visitors, per a press release.
Additionally, the museum and Google will create assisted virtual guides for visitors with disabilities, while a navigation guide mapped in AR could bring historical characters to life.
3D avatars, AR and AI
Christina Shutt, the executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, said it “pioneered the use of new technology and storytelling tools to bring history to life”.
“We have helped more than five million people connect with Lincoln’s legacy,” she added.
“With Google’s help, we will again bring cutting-edge technology to the museum to share the Lincoln story with more people in more ways.”
The initial phase of the collaboration involves building digital experiences. The following phases will include advanced experiences such as 3D avatars, experiential history lessons and virtual tours.
Opened in 2005, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum explores the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln through a collection of approximately 13 million items.
