The 3D-COFORM project will produce technology to acquire, process and present many potential types of artworks. There will be a broad range both in terms of scale (from the small jewel, to the single statue, and up to an entire building or an archaeological site) and in terms of representative materials (opaque such as stone; translucent or transparent such as glass; specular such as gilded or metal; etc.). Moreover, we will also consider composite objects (i.e. artefacts built up by several pieces), possibly with description of their kinematic behaviour.
The best way to identify the users‟ needs and the actors in the Cultural Heritage field is by illustrating some real scenarios characteristic of each research area of the project. Methods such as “user scenario description” are used to evaluate potential developments in the field by discussing potential applications to elicit informed opinions from Cultural Heritage professionals about characteristics that the applications would need to have, in advance of their implementation. This process allows regular end users to be engaged in the process and serve as evaluators, by providing a reality check on “out-of-the-box” thinking by technologists.
Scenario-based evaluation is one of two of “easy to apply” methods which, according to [Nielsen&Mack 94] allow good results to be achieved through the assessment of the:
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Domain Suitability: evaluation of appropriateness of the content of information and display representations. It examines whether the design meets cognitive requirements of the domain. In fact it is possible for a system to be usable but not suitable for domain tasks. The domain suitability poses problems with respect to the cognitive adaptations of the human activity after the introduction of a particular technology (Role dimension).
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Technical Usability: the perceptual and physical aspects of the human computer interface such as display formatting as well as anthropometrical characteristics of the wearable system (Look and Feel Dimension).
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User Acceptability: aspects of ease of use and suitability of the system for supporting cognitive requirement (Look and Feel and Role Dimension).
A number of the 3D-COFORM Cultural Heritage partners were responsible, in collaboration with a technical partner for a scenario, as below:
- C2RMF and KUL: Searching and retrieving of artworks scenario;
- CyI and UEA: Archaeological sites modelling scenario;
- CULTNAT and ETHZ: Digital reconstruction and restoration scenario;
- MICC, with ISTI-CNR and UBonn: Complicated material acquisition scenario;
- VAM and IGD: Annotation scenario.
