NHB is working with IMDA to harness technology and transform the heritage sector with innovative and immersive experiences
SINGAPORE – 22 NOV 2021
Get ready for more exciting and immersive heritage encounters – both online and through ‘phygital’ experiences – as part of the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) efforts to reshape the heritage sector in Singapore by increasing the number and quality of digital touchpoints, in order to expand the reach of heritage content.
NHB has been working closely with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to facilitate this transformation by tapping on their Open Innovation Platform (OIP) – a virtual crowd-sourcing platform that connects tech companies with organisations with digital needs; and Accreditation@SGD – a programme that supports local-based, innovative and high-performing infocomm media product companies to build an innovative technopreneur ecosystem. Highlights that have resulted from this collaboration include enhanced guided tours of 360-degree virtual galleries with a Virtual Museum Host; and utilising facial recognition technology for personalised recommendations on artefacts to view in museum galleries.
Mr Mohamed Hardi, Chief Information Officer, NHB, explained, “The digitalisation of the heritage sector has always been a priority for the National Heritage Board. This is especially pertinent in recent years as exhibitions, programmes, festivals and other content shift online, or are offered as ‘phygital’ experiences to increase access to and enhance heritage interactions. Digitalisation increases our reach beyond the physical boundaries of our museums and heritage institutions, and also makes our content more meaningful for and approachable to a broader demographic. Working with IMDA and tapping on the wider technology sector has allowed us to scale-up and accelerate these efforts, to allow more members of the public to experience heritage anytime, anywhere.”
Mr Justin Ang, Assistant Chief Executive, Media, Innovation, Communications & Marketing, IMDA, said, “We are pleased our national digital innovation programmes, Accreditation@SGD and the Open Innovation Platform, have played an instrumental role in NHB’s efforts to digitalise the heritage sector.
Through our programmes, IMDA makes innovation more accessible by connecting businesses to a wide ecosystem of tech companies and solutions providers to address their digitalisation needs. I encourage all businesses wanting to innovate and create new opportunities to engage us, and see how our vibrant ecosystem of solution providers can help with their needs.”
Utilising technology to enhance the heritage experience
Globally, heritage and cultural institutions are pursuing technology to make artworks and artefacts more experiential, with various digital modes like 360-degree panoramas, live streams, and pre-recorded guided tours with museum curators being introduced over the past year. For the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), this has resulted in “virtual twins” of its Materials and Design galleries, enhanced with a Virtual Museum Host that allows visitors to enjoy one-on-one, guided experiences from anywhere in the world.
ACM worked with spatial data company Matterport3D and pioneering, IMDA-accredited, Artificial Intelligence (AI) company TAIGER to create detailed 360-degree simulations of ACM’s galleries, enhanced with a Virtual Museum Host that utilises humanistic AI capabilities to offer an immersive, personalised online experience of the museum.
New technology will also be introduced in museum spaces, to enhance the physical museum-going experience. In an on-going pilot project utilising local firm Trakomatic’s patent-pending technology based on advanced video analytics, facial recognition and intelligent sensors, visitors will receive recommendations of artefacts and displays in the galleries that may interest them, based on a demographic analysis. This provides a useful starting point for a museum visit, and also helps visitors discover items they may be unfamiliar with. Visitors who want a more personalised experience can register to have their own profiles created on the system, for customised recommendations based on their preferences and previous interactions with museum content.
Trakomatic’s project is a result of the sixth challenge that NHB has launched on IMDA’s OIP, which has connected over $400,000 worth of prize money with multiple innovative solution providers. Two other companies, Panasonic and Grid Synergy, are also involved in the pilot project to use facial and gesture recognition technology to enhance museum experiences. Other on-going projects born from the OIP challenges include the development of a digital concierge solution with local start up Vouch SG and a virtual tourism solution with Revez Motion. NHB has its 7th innovation call open for proposals as part of OIP’s ongoing 12th innovation call, which is open until 28 Jan 2022.
ACM’s virtual Materials and Design galleries are accessible on www.nhb.gov.sg/acm/whats-on/tours, while the facial recognition project is currently in a developmental phase to assess how to optimise its application in NHB museums and heritage institutions.
For more information on the projects, please refer to:
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