Customer Need and Value Proposition
Archaeological reconstructions provide valuable spatial context enabling visitors to visualise historical building forms and settlement layouts, yet static physical structures cannot demonstrate construction processes, structural assembly sequences, material preparation techniques, or craftsperson decision-making that created original buildings, limiting educational value to visual appearance without revealing cultural knowledge embedded in construction methodologies. Heritage educators seek interpretive approaches demonstrating how archaeological structures were built, what materials required preparation, which structural elements provided specific functional purposes, and how construction sequences progressed from foundation to roof completion, yet conventional interpretive media including illustrated panels, video presentations, or guided tours prove insufficient for communicating three-dimensional spatial relationships and temporal construction progression requiring simultaneous visualisation of structural components, assembly processes, and completed forms. The VAARHeT Pilot 2 investigation explored whether voice-triggered VR building construction visualisation could minimise technical expertise and resource investment required to demonstrate archaeological processes impossible to communicate through static reconstructions or conventional interpretive approaches.
Operational Challenge Context
Āraiši Ezerpils features Europe's only reconstructed 9th-10th century fortified lake settlement with multiple historically accurate Latgalian buildings demonstrating defensive dwelling construction using archaeological evidence from original site excavations. Visitors observe reconstructed structures appreciating visual authenticity whilst lacking comprehension of construction processes including log preparation techniques, horizontal log construction with corner notching systems, structural reinforcement methodologies preventing lateral movement, roof assembly using wooden shingles without metal fasteners, and foundation pile driving creating stability within lake environment. Conventional interpretation approaches including illustrated panels explaining construction sequences prove insufficient for communicating three-dimensional spatial relationships between structural components, temporal progression from foundation through walls to roof completion, and material preparation techniques requiring specialised knowledge about wood selection, log shaping, and joinery methods. Heritage educators recognise enhanced visitor understanding requires demonstration capabilities revealing invisible construction knowledge embedded within visible structural forms, yet practical limitations prevent physical building assembly demonstrations or comprehensive model construction at educational scales.
Technical Solution Architecture
Pilot 2 implemented Meta Quest 3 VR experience positioning participants within virtual representation of reconstructed Āraiši settlement, integrating VOXReality Automatic Speech Recognition and Dialogue System for voice-command triggering of Unity Timeline animations demonstrating exploded views and construction sequence progressions for 10th-century Latgalian defensive dwelling. Voice commands enabled natural language requests including "show me the foundation", "how was the roof constructed", "explain corner notching", triggering specific animation sequences revealing structural component relationships, assembly order, material preparation requirements, and craftsperson techniques. Timeline animations demonstrated structural elements separating spatially with explanatory text labels identifying components, construction phases progressing temporally from pile driving through log wall assembly to roof completion, and material technique close-ups showing joinery details, wood preparation methods, and functional purpose explanations. The VR environment maintained spatial context within broader settlement reconstruction enabling participants to understand individual building construction within defensive fortification strategy and community layout patterns.
Validation Methodology
Āraiši Ezerpils validation (14-16 July 2025) engaged 39 participants experiencing VR archaeological exploration with Meta Quest 3 headsets, following brief orientation about voice command capabilities and safety protocols for VR navigation. Participants explored reconstructed settlement environment triggering construction demonstrations through natural language voice commands, with session duration approximately 15 minutes enabling multiple building exploration and construction sequence observation. Evaluation instruments included Net Promoter Score measuring likelihood to recommend, added value ratings (1-5 scale) separately assessing educational applications and collaborative exploration benefits, user sentiment analysis categorising participant emotional responses (positive, neutral, negative), and qualitative feedback capturing participant perspectives on educational effectiveness, discovery experiences, and comparative value versus conventional site interpretation. Facilitators observed participant engagement patterns, voice command usage, and comprehension indicators whilst technical monitoring documented system performance, interaction success rates, and voice recognition accuracy.
Quantified Outcomes and Metrics
Pilot 2 validation produced strongest evidence among all VAARHeT components with Net Promoter Score 61 indicating strong positive reception substantially exceeding Pilots 1 and 3, positioning VR archaeological exploration as genuinely compelling visitor experience rather than marginally valuable technology demonstration (VAARHeT Pilot 2 Validation Report July 2025). Educational value rating exceeded 4.0 out of 5 (80%+ value perception) demonstrating compelling pedagogical benefit justifying technology investment, whilst collaborative exploration rating reached 3.6 out of 5 (72%) indicating moderate value for team learning contexts. User sentiment analysis showed 97.4% positive or neutral responses with minimal negative feedback, validating experiential engagement quality and participant satisfaction. Task completion achieved 91% with participants successfully triggering construction demonstrations and comprehending structural assembly sequences, whilst accuracy rate reached 96% for correct system responses to voice commands demonstrating reliable voice recognition and animation triggering despite occasional command interpretation challenges requiring reformulation.
Strategic Insights and Lessons
Pilot 2 validation generated fundamental confirmation of Culturama Platform value proposition: VR provides unique pedagogical value for experiential spatial heritage education where immersive technology enables temporal reconstruction visualisation, construction process demonstration, and interactive structural exploration impossible through conventional interpretive media including physical site visits, illustrated panels, or video presentations. The differentiation from Pilots 1 and 3 proved strategically critical, clearly demonstrating XR delivers differential value for specific heritage applications rather than universal benefit across all museum functions, informing commercial positioning emphasising selective deployment for high-value experiential education rather than comprehensive digital transformation regardless of appropriateness. Participant feedback consistently emphasised discovery experiences exploring construction processes invisible in static reconstructed buildings, with genuine learning moments understanding structural assembly logic, material preparation requirements, and craftsperson problem-solving approaches that conventional interpretation cannot effectively communicate, validating hypothesis that spatial three-dimensional visualisation combined with temporal progression animation creates pedagogical value impossible through two-dimensional media or static physical observation.
Platform Evolution and Commercial Pathway
Pilot 2 validation evidence directly shaped Culturama Platform commercial development focus prioritising VR archaeological site augmentation and temporal reconstruction visualisation as core capability differentiating platform from conventional heritage interpretation approaches. Market positioning emphasises unique value for experiential spatial education enabling visitors to understand construction processes, structural relationships, and cultural practices embedded within archaeological remains and historical reconstructions through interactive three-dimensional exploration with temporal animation capabilities. Commercial development roadmap prioritises content authoring tools enabling heritage professionals to create custom reconstruction visualisations and construction sequence animations without requiring technical 3D modeling or Unity development expertise, democratising immersive interpretation creation through template-based approaches and curator-friendly authoring interfaces supporting institutional knowledge capture within accessible creation workflows.
Partnership Model and Attribution
Āraiši Ezerpils Archaeological Park contributed archaeological expertise validating reconstruction accuracy, provided 3D model data from existing physical reconstructions enabling virtual environment creation, recruited museum visitor participants ensuring representative validation cohort, and delivered strategic feedback about heritage interpretation priorities informing content authoring requirements. Cordula Hansen from Technical Art Services brought heritage pedagogy expertise informing educational effectiveness assessment approaches, designed UX research methodology ensuring rigorous evaluation whilst maintaining participant ethical protocols, and provided liaison function translating between technical capability vocabularies and museum professional operational requirements. VOXReality consortium (Maggioli leadership, F6S coordination) enabled access to European AI voice interaction technologies supporting natural language command triggering whilst maintaining GDPR compliance and EU data sovereignty requirements essential for institutional heritage deployment confidence.