Iziko Museums of South Africa, in partnership with the Friends of Design – Academy of Digital Arts, presents the exhibition Kemet: Life in Ancient Egypt.
This student-driven project, centred round creating an augmented reality experience in ancient Egypt, brings the past back to life, demonstrating how new technologies can successfully augment the museum experience.
The overarching exhibition theme explores how ancient Egypt shapes our world today, exploring five elements: Writing Systems, Pharaohs, Science and Technology, Beliefs and Religion, and Recreation. The revamped displays in the exhibition space include a scale model of an Egyptian mummification chamber and an Egyptian slave scene.
Interactive elements include an augmented reality activity that will showcase ‘Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt’ and ‘The Soul’s Journey through the Ancient Egyptian Afterlife’. The exhibition also features games, puzzles and take-away primary and secondary learning resources about ancient Egypt, including resources to support a school visit, classroom resources and online resources.
The downloadable smartphone app uses the phone’s camera to add elements of interactivity to these displays/scenes, showing museum visitors additional information about the displays, adding animated digital elements, such as narration or a rotating 3D image of an object, and displaying photos and videos linked to an object.
The app also displays animated ‘characters’ using a tool or performing a task.
