Virtual Reality and Conversational Agents for Cultural Heritage Engagement

Virtual Reality (VR) and AI-driven Non-Playable Characters (NPCs) are increasingly being used in education and cultural heritage to enhance engagement and interactivity. Adaptive virtual environments enable real-time digital learning [1], with studies highlighting Unreal Engine and AI-powered avatars as key to immersive educational experiences in the metaverse [2]. This project enhances the visitor experience at the Balzi Rossi Museum (Ventimiglia, Italy) through an interactive virtual guide inspired by the “Dame du Cavillon”, the name given to a female skeleton from the Upper Paleolithic. The prototype was developed using freely available tools, including Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) technologies, to ensure accessibility and cost-effectiveness. The guide provides historical information while enhancing the immersive and interactive experience for visitors, making cultural heritage more approachable and engaging. Key challenges include the creation of an accessible and realistic interactive guide and the effective integration of GenAI-driven dialogue systems. This paper explores the technical methodologies and user experience (UX) strategies employed to create a seamless virtual museum experience, underlining the educational potential of VR in fostering engagement with cultural heritage. REFERENCES [1] M. Hatami, Q. Qu, Y. Chen, H. Kholidy, E. Blasch, e E. Ardiles-Cruz, «A Survey of the Real-Time Metaverse: Challenges and Opportunities», Future Internet, vol. 16, fasc. 10, Art. fasc. 10, ott. 2024, doi: 10.3390/fi16100379. [2] A. Abilkaiyrkyzy, A. Elhagry, F. Laamarti, e A. E. Saddik, «Metaverse Key Requirements and Platforms Survey», IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 117765–117787, 2023, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3325844.