Abstract

The Other Eyes Project (2021-2023) was a UKRI AHRC funded project to investigate the creation of virtual reality avatars based on archaeological data. The project was created to explore the capacity of reconstructions of past people to evoke empathetic responses from present people, develop best practices for collecting and visualising archaeological data, and to explore the ethics of digital embodiment within archaeological research. Building on previous mixed reality work on reconstructing archaeological sites and avatars, Other Eyes brought together a large team of academic researchers, heritage practitioners, the Yorkshire Museum and Beta Jester, a video game creation company to create avatars based on archaeological data. In this talk I describe the results of the quantitative and qualitative research conducted in support of better understanding the ability to evoke empathy for past people with digital reconstructions.

The talk will be in-person and online. Register online here: https://cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/feS71pMITV6B56t053N7Sw#/registration