Discovering Leonardo with artificial intelligence and holograms: A user study

Abstract Cutting-edge visualization and interaction technologies are increasingly used in museum exhibitions, providing novel ways to engage visitors and enhance their cultural experience. Existing applications are commonly built upon a single technology, focusing on visualization, motion or verbal interaction (e.g., high-resolution projections, gesture interfaces, chatbots). This aspect limits their potential, since museums are highly heterogeneous in terms of visitors profiles and interests, requiring multi-channel, customizable interaction modalities. To this aim, this work describes and evaluates an artificial intelligence powered, interactive holographic stand aimed at describing Leonardo Da Vinci’s art. This system provides the users with accurate 3D representations of Leonardo’s machines, which can be interactively manipulated through a touchless user interface. It is also able to dialog with the users in natural language about Leonardo’s art, while keeping the context of conversation and interactions. Furthermore, the results of a large user study, carried out during art and tech exhibitions, are presented and discussed. The goal was to assess how users of different ages and interests perceive, understand and explore cultural objects when holograms and artificial intelligence are used as instruments of knowledge and analysis.