Overview

The main objective of the proposed project is the realization of the “Museum of Pure Form”, a virtual reality system where the user can interact, through the senses of touch and sight, with digital models of 3D art forms and sculptures. The research will be mainly focused on the haptic perception (from the Greek apticoz meaning “through the sense of touch”) of digital copies of sculptures, based on force feedback technology. A selected set of sculptures belonging to the collection of partner museums will be digitally acquired to create a digital database of artworks copies, that will constitute the core of a new web-base computer network among partner museums and other European cultural institutions. Two specifically devised Haptic Interface systems, composing the MPF system, will be first validated in a CAVE structure and then installed in temporary exhibitions of partner museums, where the visitors will be allowed to haptically explore the digital sculptures immersed in the Virtual Environment.