This presentation will discuss opportunities (and responsibilities) arising from the way mobile and web-based technologies enable audiences to forge a new relationship with history – one which is geo-located and multi-perspectival, enhancing the physical with digital representations of multiple narratives & memories. It draws on the case study of StoryTrails (2022), the UK’s largest immersive storytelling project to date, highlighting the increased sense of connection & belonging people felt when experiencing the histories of their cities in the following ways: – exploring digital, story-led “emotional maps” in which 3D scans of local places, people, and objects were woven into people-centric digital representations of the built environment; – interacting with virtual content overlaid onto real-world locations via a smartphone app, utilising Augmented Reality (AR) to narrate histories where they actually happened. Development of democratised 3D storytelling tools (including use of AI pipelines), opens the way for a truly participatory approach to heritage – one which invites multiple perspectives and seeks omitted narratives from underrepresented people & groups. In our work, we refer to
this as a new “People’s Metaverse”. Using first-hand research, this presentation demonstrates practical ways in which new technologies combined with participatory practice can disrupt established modes and authorship of histories and the way they are represented; in enabling more people to add themselves, their stories and their perspectives to the history “map”.
Professor Amanda Murphy is a distinguished academic and multi-award-winning Producer in the Creative Industries recognised for her pioneering work fostering innovation and pushing the boundaries of storytelling. She was Executive Producer of the UK largest immersive storytelling project, Storytrails, reimagining history using augmented reality. She is currently focused on driving a new approach to media inclusion. Amanda is a BAFTA winning Producer of digital film, Missed Call and she created some of UK televisions most successful IP such as Supernanny and UK Big Brother.
Helen Scarlett O’Neill is a site-responsive and immersive arts specialist utilising game theory and participatory practice to explore space. Helen produced 16 mobile augmented reality pieces at locations across the UK for SFA’s Story Trails project. Her background is as an immersive performance designer, leading the design of projects for Secret Cinema, London Contemporary Orchestra and the National Trust. Her own company has produced interactive performance art and site-responsive experiences, most notably the intimate travel performance Surrealist Taxi. Helen co-curated London InTRANSIT festival of art in unexpected spaces and the Portobello Pavilion public space pop-up. She lectures Contemporary Art Practice part time at Gray’s School of Art with a focus on digital/AV.