Interpreting the Past: Computer Graphics and Archaeology
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Recent developments in computer graphics and interactive techniques are providing powerful tools for modelling multi-dimensional aspects of data gathered by archaeologists. Computer graphics can be used to reconstruct and visualise features of a site, or artifact which may otherwise be difficult to appreciate. This new perspective may enhance our understanding of the environments in which our ancestors lived and worked. However, crucial questions are now being raised: who really benefits from the technology; will the revenue from site visits be wiped out through virtual tourism; and, are the results misleading and thus are we in fact misinterpreting the past. |
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This Campfire brings together graphic specialists and archaeologists to discuss these issues which are fundamental to the future collaboration between these fields. The focussed presentations and discussions will consider many of the key issues confronting archaeologists and computer graphics specialists who wish to work together to Interpret the Past, including:
How should the results best be presented?
Is a significant level of realism really justified or does this increase the chances of misleading the audience? Is a full virtual experience complete with virtual guide more appropriate than a simple augmented reality headset, or even more traditional display technology?
What do the archaeologists really want/need from computer graphics?
Are graphics practitioners listening to archaeologists, or are they simply insisting their latest cool techniques be used?
Who pays for the work and who benefits from the results?
Is this yet another example of rich institutions exploiting resources from poorer areas for gain?
Will virtual tourism remove the need for anyone to visit actual sites, thus wiping out much needed revenue, or will virtual archaeology so increase the density of tourists at sites that many will have to restrict access or even close to preserve our heritage from irreparable damage? Or maybe virtual tourism will successfully wet our appetites to visit real places and see more from the existing artefacts. Furthermore, if sites decide to share reconstructions then the visit to one site can encourage a visit to other similar sites.
How should the virtual sites best be marketed?
Perhaps the virtual site may become a set for games, or within downloadable tourist guides that you can play on your dream-cast whilst choosing holiday destinations in your browser.
Dates
Saturday 20 May - Tuesday 23 May 2000
Venue
Snowbird, Utah
Numbers
Maximum 50 participants
Costs
Costs (per person) cover full board (ie all meals and accommodation) plus transport to and from the airport.
• Single - $383.00
• Double - $275.00
• Triple - $239.00
• Quadruple - $221.00
• Tax $30.00
• Registration $50.00
Each participant will receive a copy of the proceedings.
Contact
If you would like to participate in this Campfire, please email the following information to Alan Chalmers at :
Participation at Campfire: Interpreting the Past
Name:
Institution:
Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
URL:
Email:
Please note that to ensure meaningful discussion, participation is limited to a MAXIMUM of 50 persons on a first-come first-served basis.
ACM SIGGRAPH ONLINE: http://www.siggraph.org/
EUROGRAPHICS: http://www.eg.org/