You’ll never see your museum visit in the same light again. Gone are the traditional audio guides and paper brochures kindly handed out by salespeople; hello tablets and digital glasses! These electronic devices have gradually been adopted by many French cultural venues that want to display their collections from a different perspective;Augmented reality comes into its own for visiting places like museums. The visit is enhanced by tablet or smartphone. For example, one can model and recreate elements of the past, such as Pasteur’s daily life in his house in Arbois.explains Olivier Bercot, Commercial Director of Artefacto, a Rennes-based company specializing in augmented reality and 3D visualization technologies; Figaro.
Specifically, what kinds of equipment are available to the curious who embark on a cultural visit labeled “augmented reality”? “In general, the site provides its visitors with tools such as tablets or augmented glasses. It is even sometimes possible for a visitor to use their own mobile phone to view informationadds Olivier Bercot. Here are five experiments to try without digital moderation.
“Relive” at the Grand Gallery of Evolution (Paris)
See extinct animals come (re)alive, can you believe it? The National Museum of Natural History of Paris has provided an opportunity. In the center of the Great Evolution Gallery, six people equipped with HoloLens augmented reality headsets (developed by Microsoft) can view dozens of animal species that are extinct or on the verge of extinction. , such as the Tasmanian tiger (or thylacine), the dodo, or the great flightless Angolan beetle. The experience, which lasts fifteen minutes, invites the visitor to reflect on the question of life preservation;It’s real time travel. The idea is to meet species that still lived on Earth two centuries ago and to think about what role humans might have played in their extinction.explains Marie Vacrenier, head of museological and technical service of the National Museum of Natural History. The route, which is part of the museum’s permanent offering, is likely to be developed in the future. Please note: the institution recommends that you reserve your place for the course in advance, available places are limited on Wednesdays, weekends and every day during school holidays.
“Relive”, Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, at the National Museum of Natural History, 36 rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 75005 Paris. The experience is open to the public every Wednesday and weekend, and every day during school holidays from 10am to 6pm. From €10 for 8-25 year olds and up to €13 full price.
Castle of William the Conqueror (Cliff, Calvados)
Head to Normandy and Guillaume le Conquérant Castle in Falaise, Calvados department. Classified as a historic monument in 1840, this 10th-century castle was one of the main residences of the King of England and Duke of Normandy until his death in 1087. out in that since 2013 you can rediscover its interior in augmented reality. Armed with a tablet borrowed during the visit and christened “HistoPad” (a device developed by the French startup Histovery, used in dozens of other cultural sites in France), they can explore the interior of the castle, which was built in the Middle Ages. “During the walk, visitors are invited to scan the medallions, which are actually QR codes. Once scanned, they can see with the HistoPad how the room was built in the 12th century explains Le Figaro Samuel Barth, Promotion Officer at Château de Falaise. Count 1h30 for the fastest visitors, and up to 4 hours for the curious.
Château Guillaume-le-Conquerant, Place Guillaume le Conquerant, 14700 Falaise. Open daily from 10am to 6pm (opening hours until 2 January 2023). Admission from 4 euros for 6-16 year olds and up to 8.5 euros full price (tablets are given to visitors for free).
The Hotel Gaillard of the Economy City (Paris)
Built in the late 19th century at the request of French banker Emile Gaillard, this mansion was acquired by the Banque de France in 1919 for use as a branch, and a century later it was turned into a museum dedicated to the economy. Citéco. From April 2022, the Cité de l’économie offers its visitors to discover the interior of the mansion in augmented reality. The visit is organized around a puzzle. The playing field. Franco-Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, whose student-pianist Emil Gayard was, is going to give a concert. Problem: he lacks objects (score, candle…) needed to start his speech. Armed with a “mixed” reality headset (the HoloLens model), visitors are invited to find them;They are not just spectators, but real actors in their visit. They learn by playing, it’s an immersive experienceexplains Figaro Ghislain Lauverjat, head of the audience development center at the Cité de l’économie. Considering the many positive responses, the extension of the course is planned even in 2023.
City of Economy, 1 place du General Catroux, 75017 Paris. Mixed reality experience three times on Tuesday to Sunday (at 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00). Entry from €6 for 6-17 year olds and up to €12 full price + €4 surcharge for the augmented reality experience. Children up to 6 years of age are free to enter.
Castle of Blois (Blois, Loire-et-Cher)
It’s not just the Château de Blois. The capital of the Loire-et-Cher department is also famous for its royal castle, located in the center of the city and inspired by the Gothic, Classical and Renaissance styles. Since 2018, the castle has been equipped with a HistoPad (like Falaise Castle) so that visitors can discover its interior as it was in the 16th and 18th centuries. In addition to traditional historical reconstructions in 3D, there is an opportunity to “click” on objects in the rooms and discover their characteristics using the tablet, or even participate in a treasure hunt through the castle. “Feedback from visitors is very positive.explains Ivan Boukef, responsible for the preservation of the castle’s heritage, Figaro. “We currently have about two hundred tablets, the cost of which is included in the cost of the visit. Their number is expected to increase further“, he explains.
Royal Castle of Blois, 6 places du Château, 41000 Blois. Open all year except December 25, 9am to 6.30pm to November 6th and 10am to 5pm November 7th. Visit with the HistoPad, available to book as an option and included in the entry ticket. Admission from €6.50 for 6-17 year olds and up to €13 full price. Free for children under 6 (but add €3 supplement to take a tablet).
“Flowertrip” experience at the EDF Foundation (Paris)
To close this hands-on guide, an experience that literally makes virtual flowers bloom before our eyes. Along with his exhibition dedicated to travel, “Do you have to travel to be happy?” (which runs until 29 January 2023), the EDF Group Foundation will bring an augmented reality experience to life on the screen of iPad tablets on 19 November. Le Figaro was able to test the preview experience. Armed with a state-of-the-art device, we launch an app and begin to slowly walk through the “test” room. Suddenly, giant futuristic-looking flowers appear all around us, on the ground, from the ceiling, on the walls… The effect is magical, the plants hypnotize us.It looks like a surreal gardenCarefully treads Constance Valero, a young artist and experience maker. The ride is short but instant. In line with the main exhibition.
EDF Foundation premises, Juliette Récamier 6 rue, 75007, Paris. Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00-19:00, entry is free with a reservation.
Source: Le Figaro
