Digital storytelling has revolutionized the preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage by integrating Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). These technologies provide immersive experiences that engage diverse audiences, particularly the younger generation accustomed to digital media. VR offers fully immersive environments, transporting users to different times and places, while AR overlays digital information onto the real world, enhancing interaction with physical surroundings. This dual approach enriches storytelling, fostering emotional connections and active participation, thereby transforming users from passive observers into co-creators of cultural narratives. The application of VR and AR supports cultural institutions facing resource limitations, offering innovative solutions without extensive physical infrastructure. Theoretical frameworks like the Narrative Immersion Model and transmedia storytelling emphasize the shift from passive consumption to interactive engagement, highlighting the role of digital storytelling in enhancing cultural identity and memory. By fostering inclusivity and diversity, these technologies ensure multiple voices are represented, promoting social justice and community engagement. This paper explores the roles of VR and AR in digital storytelling for cultural heritage, analyzing their impact on audience engagement and effectiveness in preserving cultural narratives across various contexts.
Abdul-JabbarSNAlwehabAA (2023) Augmented reality’s role in highlighting historical heritage/kirkuk citadel. Journal of Engineering29: 104–122.
2.
AbdulhusainZQaedFAljawderH (2022) Digital storytelling in museums to revive islamic heritage in the digital museum: a design proposal. 1: 51–60.
3.
AzizKASiangTG (2014) Virtual reality and augmented reality combination as a holistic application for heritage preservation in the UNESCO world heritage site of Melaka. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity4: 333–338.
4.
BaikA (2021) The use of interactive virtual BIM to boost virtual tourism in heritage sites, historic Jeddah. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information10: 577.
5.
BekeleMKChampionE (2019) A comparison of immersive realities and interaction methods: cultural learning in virtual heritage. Frontiers in Robotics and Ai6: 91.
6.
BobocRGBăutuEGîrbaciaF, et al. (2022) Augmented reality in cultural heritage: an overview of the last decade of applications. Applied Sciences12(19): 9859.
7.
CahyaniIPMardaniPBWidianingsihY (2023) Digital storytelling in cultural tourism: a sustainable communication approach at the Lasem heritage foundation. International Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship, Social Science and Humanities6: 45–69.
8.
CastagnettiCGianniniMRivolaR (2017) Image-based virtual tours and 3d modeling of past and current ages for the enhancement of archaeological parks: the visualversilia 3d project. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences639–645.
9.
ChenDZhangZHouM (2023) The survey of the use of Vr and Ar at immovable tangible cultural heritage tourism in China. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences XLVIII-M-2–2023: 413–420.
10.
CuevaMKuhnleyRRevelsL, et al. (2013) Bridging storytelling traditions with digital technology. International Journal of Circumpolar Health72(1).
11.
DimaMMaplesH (2021) Affectual Dramaturgy for Augmented Reality Immersive Heritage Performance. Body Space & Technology.
12.
EcenbargerC (2016) Comic books, video games, and transmedia storytelling. International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations8: 34–42.
13.
EconomouMYoungHSosnowskaE (2018) Evaluating emotional engagement in digital stories for interpreting the past. The case of the Hunterian Museum’s Antonine Wall EMOTIVE experiences. 20183rd Digital Heritage International Congress (DigitalHERITAGE) Held Jointly with 2018 24th International Conference on Virtual Systems & Multimedia (VSMM2018), 1–8.
14.
GachagoD (2016) The performativity of digital stories in contexts of systemic inequality. South African Journal of Higher Education30(3): 296–308.
15.
HashimH (2019) Narrative techno-enhancement: the impact of the digital visual effects (DVFx) in creative narrative performance. Jurnal Komunikasi: Malaysian Journal of Communication35: 17–28.
16.
HashmiNUAnsariDNZulqarnainDW (2021) How audience can Be engaged in VR videos; A critical analysis of sense of presence, enjoyment and empathy. Journal of Management Practices Humanities and Social Sciences5(4.1):1-7.
17.
HaydarMRousselDMaïdiM, et al. (2010) Virtual and augmented reality for cultural computing and heritage: a case study of virtual exploration of underwater archaeological sites (preprint). Virtual Reality15: 311–327.
18.
IdrisMZMustaffaNSyed YusoffSO (2016) Preservation of intangible cultural heritage using advance digital technology: issues and challenges. Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education16: 1.
19.
JungTtom DieckMC (2017) Augmented reality, virtual reality and 3D printing for the co-creation of value for the visitor experience at cultural heritage places. Journal of Place Management and Development10: 140–151.
20.
JungKNguyenVTPiscaracD, et al. (2020) Meet the virtual jeju dol harubang—the mixed VR/AR application for cultural immersion in Korea’s main heritage. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information9: 367.
21.
KalindaD (2022) Tangible Cultural Analytics: How Tangible Augmented Reality Can Enhance Cultural Heritage Research. Toronto Metropolitan University. Thesis.
22.
KolivandHRhalibiAETajdiniM, et al. (2018) Cultural Heritage in Marker-Less Augmented Reality: A Survey. In: Turcanu-CarutiuD.IonR.-M. (eds). Advanced Methods and New Materials for Cultural Heritage Preservation. IntechOpen.
23.
LiYCh’ngECaiS, et al (2018) Multiuser interaction with hybrid VR and AR for cultural heritage objects20183rd Digital Heritage International Congress (DigitalHERITAGE) Held Jointly with 2018 24th International Conference on Virtual Systems &Multimedia (VSMM2018), 1–8.
24.
LiJWiderWOchiaiY, et al. (2023) A bibliometric analysis of immersive technology in museum exhibitions: exploring user experience. Frontiers in Virtual Reality4: 1240562.
25.
Lipianina-HoncharenkoKSchauerSSieckJ, et al. (2023) Concept of information system for cultural heritage sites renovation using augmented reality. Computer Systems and Information Technologies2: 64–68.
26.
LiyushianaSibaraniRPurwokoA, et al. (2022) Cultural-heritage virtual tour for tourism recovery post COVID-19: a design and evaluation. International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics17: 447–451.
27.
MijatovićBRizvićS (2021) Virtual Reality Video in Digital Cultural Heritage Applications. Revealing the Past, Enriching the Present and Shaping the. Future38–45.
28.
MoroSRitaPEsmeradoJ (2019) Analysing recent augmented and virtual reality developments in tourism. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology10(4): 571–586.
29.
NosratiFDetlorB (2021) The power of stories for impression management: evidence from a city cultural digital storytelling initiative. Information Technology and People35: 1410–1427.
30.
OkanovićVIvkovic-KihicIBoškovićD, et al. (2022) Interaction in eXtended reality applications for cultural heritage. Applied Sciences12(3): 1241.
31.
OmranWRamosRFCasaisB (2023) Virtual reality and augmented reality applications and their effect on tourist engagement: a hybrid review. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology15: 497–518.
32.
PentescuA (2023) Cultural heritage and new technologies: exploring opportunities for cultural heritage sites from gen Z’s perspective. Studies in Business and Economics18: 230–243.
33.
PietroniEAdamiA (2014) Interacting with virtual reconstructions in museums. Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage7: 1–29.
34.
PodaraAGiomelakisDNicolaouC, et al. (2021) Digital storytelling in cultural heritage: audience engagement in the interactive documentary new life. Sustainability13: 1193.
35.
PraničevićDG (2021) Augmented reality and virtual reality-based technology in cultural tourism. Entrenova - Enterprise Research Innovation7(1): 314–322.
36.
RinerAHurJWKohlmeierJ (2022) Virtual reality integration in social studies classroom: impact on student knowledge, classroom engagement, and historical empathy development. Journal of Educational Technology Systems51: 146–168.
37.
RizvićSBoškovićDOkanovićV, et al. (2021) Time travel to the past of Bosnia and Herzegovina through virtual and augmented reality. Applied Sciences11: 3711.
38.
RouhaniB (2023) Ethically digital: contested cultural heritage in digital context. Studies in Digital Heritage7: 1–16.
39.
SelmanovićERizvićSHarveyC, et al. (2020) Improving accessibility to intangible cultural heritage preservation using virtual reality. Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage13(2): 1–19.
40.
SuryadiFSSuswantoD (2024) The influence of digital media on creative writing. Jurnal Syntax Admiration5: 1783–1789.
41.
SuyutiHSetyantoA (2023) The use of augmented reality technology in preserving cultural heritage: a case study of Old Jami Mosque of Palopo. Ceddi Journal of Information System and Technology (Jst)2: 28–37.
42.
ThemistocleousKEvagorouEMettasC, et al. (2022) The Use of Digital Twin Models to Document Cultural Heritage Monuments. Proc. SPIE 12268, Earth Resources and Environmental Remote Sensing/GIS ApplicationsXIII, 12268,: 122680C.
43.
UpasaniNMannaARanjanikarM (2023) Augmented, virtual and mixed reality research in cultural heritage: a bibliometric study. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications14(1).
44.
VoineaG-DGîrbaciaFPostelnicuC, et al. (2018) Exploring cultural heritage using augmented reality through Google’s project Tango and ARCore. First International Conference, VRTCH 2018, Brasov, Romania, 29–30 May 2018.
45.
WalmsleyAPKerstenTP (2020) The imperial cathedral in königslutter (Germany) as an immersive experience in virtual reality with integrated 360° panoramic photography. Applied Sciences10: 1517.
46.
WangYZhouYLiuW, et al. (2019) Using digital storytelling in a virtual 3d-museum for Beijing old objects. Digital Presentation and Preservation of Cultural and Scientific Heritage9: 303–308.
47.
WangBDaiLLiaoB (2023) System architecture design of a multimedia platform to increase awareness of cultural heritage: a case study of sustainable cultural heritage. Sustainability15: 2504.
48.
WilsonKDeshaC (2016) Engaging in design activism and communicating cultural significance through contemporary heritage storytelling. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development6: 271–286.
49.
ZhangJSilvaBL (2020) Tangible VR: traversing space in XR to grow a virtual butterfly.
50.
ZhangYYeGPengL, et al. (2022) Clinical application of 3D visualization technology in pancreatoduodenectomy. Surgical Techniques Development11(3): 90–97.
