Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Gaming

Wessex Archaeology’s Studio team creates engaging archaeologically accurate and informative heritage immersive experiences.

The Wessex Archaeology Studio employs expert 3D creatives to create bespoke heritage immersive experiences. With specialists in environment reconstruction modelling and character creation, our detailed 3D digital models of places and historic events can be displayed in a variety of ways, through Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Gaming Experiences.

What is Augmented Reality? 

Augmented Reality (AR) is an interactive experience where computer generated information is overlaid onto a real-world environment. It can include visual, auditory and haptic information.

As part of a heritage interpretation, Augmented Reality can be used to show: historic elements, structures and people, within a modern surrounding. This helps people understand how places and life styles have changed over time and developed into what we see today. Buildings or monuments lost through time can be brought back via the magic of AR, with the use of an app loaded on people’s own devices. 

If your site has no WiFi reception you might be interested in our digital display service where an onsite information board can be powered by a solar panel to create a secure WiFi network to serve up 3D, video and website information.

Augmented Reality is also an excellent way to make 3D interactive models of beautiful objects and collections from the past. Virtual museums allow people to explore these treasures while in their own home, breaking down accessibility barriers. Virtual copies are particularly important when an object is delicate and cannot be handled. Viewing can be via a computer, phone or tablet. Realistic digital 3D reconstructions of real objects including informative annotations, can be served up anywhere. 

What is Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual Reality is a full immersive experience, a computer generated simulation. By using a headset and hand controls, Virtual Reality can be used to allow people to walk though 3D virtual sites and interact with realistic replica models of real artefacts, and meet people from the past. The audience is taken back to a different time and place to interact with history in a seamless realistic and physical way. These experiences can include sound, visuals and haptics, and objects can be picked up and handled.  

Our environments are lovingly reconstructed based on real places and events from the past. Drawing on our wider company knowledge base. With literally hundreds of heritage experts in-house, we can ensure our Virtual Reality experiences are as accurate and realistic as possible, to create a fully immersive experience for your audience.

Gaming experiences

Games are not just for children. Games now outsell video and music combined. People want to be entertained as well as try new experiences. Wessex Archaeology’s Studio team create heritage based games to allow your audience to learn about history and archaeology through play. These can be delivered by touchscreen or via a Virtual Reality experience.  

Find out more about our Heritage Interpretation Services here.