Augmented Reality (AR) is a set of technologies that enhance the perception of reality, by adding overlays of information about the environment and its objects through computer simulation. AR differs from virtual reality: while virtual reality replaces the real world with a simulated one, augmentation is conventionally in real-time and uses real elements from the user’s environment with virtual reality overlays.
Augmented reality has many applications in the Cultural Heritage domain. For example, it can be used in archaeological sites to provide on-site reconstructions of ancient places, or audio alerts and descriptions of historical places. AR technology can also be used to enrich museum visiting and learning experiences, by adding different content layers or supplying computer-generated simulations.