National Museum Brings Extinct Animals Back to Life

 In CraneMorley, Mixed Reality Industry Insight

Previously, we explored how the Historical M Leuven Museum created an innovative immersive experience using Microsoft HoloLens. A similar captivating use case has now emerged at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, where Microsoft HoloLens 2 is being employed to resurrect extinct animals and bring them back to life.

This groundbreaking exhibit offers visitors the opportunity to engage with extinct animals as if they’ve journeyed back in time. Through holographic and animated representations displayed at their actual sizes, viewers can immerse themselves in the experience of standing and walking beside these ancient creatures. The interaction extends beyond visual spectacle; users can see and hear how these extinct animals would have behaved in their natural environments.

The fifteen-minute immersive experience delves deeper than a mere portrayal of these creatures’ appearances and behaviors. It imparts a comprehensive understanding of their lifestyles, the factors that led to their extinction, the timeline of their disappearance, and the broader ecological impacts. A significant goal of this exhibit is to educate and raise awareness about current endangered species, advocating for their preservation.

An intriguing element of the experience involves a migratory pigeon, also sadly extinct, serving as a virtual tour guide. Throughout the exhibit, this pigeon companion shares captivating stories about each animal and offers guidance on how users should interact with these lifelike virtual creatures. While currently presented as a fifteen-minute experience, the horizon of innovation holds the promise of a self-paced tour, allowing users to tailor their experience and focus on animals of personal interest.

In an era dominated by pervasive technology and constant connectivity through smartphones, leveraging technology is pivotal to maintain visitors’ engagement during museum visits. This remarkable experience empowers visitors to traverse time and immerse themselves in our planet’s rich history, while also fostering a sense of urgency and responsibility to safeguard the remaining animal species that inhabit our world.

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