Abstract Panel


Authors Information
SequenceTypeName TitleFirst NameLast NameDepartmentInstitute / Affiliation
1 Author Dr. MONIMUGDHA BHUYAN ANTHROPOLOGY DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY
Abstract Information
TrackID
:
IUAES23_ABS_X8534
Abstract Theme
:
Visual Anthropology- Beyond Embodiment
Abstract Title
:
From Artifacts to Pixels: Challenges and Opportunities of Virtualizing Anthropological Museums of Assam
Short Abstract
:
Museums are an integral part of Anthropology as they preserve, document, and interpret the culture of different communities. Dibrugarh University has a rich Anthropological Museum that preserves significant material cultural objects of different ethnic communities of Northeast India. Virtualizing these objects can potentially change how people access, explore, and engage with museum collections. It is essential to approach this process with prudence, as it involves ethical and cultural consequences.
Long Abstract
:

A museum is the scientific “store house” of natural and cultural objects of different societies under one roof, arranged according to their geographical area, culture, function, utility, etc. Museums are an integral part of Anthropology as it preserves, document, and interprets the culture of different communities, out of which many are even extinct. The Anthropological Museums in Universities play a crucial role as a unique center for teaching and learning. It collects, preserves, and exhibits different cultural objects of the surrounding communities and makes proper documentation and interpretation. These museums often preserve many obsolete cultural objects that are irreplaceable and cannot be collected again. These unique artifacts are incredibly precious as they shed light on the past and aid in understanding its cultural history. Virtualizing these priceless cultural artifacts is imperative to preserve their heritage for future generations and make it accessible to a larger audience. The process necessitates using many tools, such as digital cameras, scanners, 3D imaging, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and AR (Augmented Reality) technology. Dibrugarh University is the easternmost University in India, located in the Dibrugarh District of Assam. It has a rich Anthropological Museum that preserves significant material cultural objects of different ethnic communities of Northeast India. In this endeavour, a modest attempt has been made to examine the opportunities and challenges of digitalizing the cultural objects of this museum. The virtualization of anthropological museums can potentially change how people access, explore, and engage with museum collections. There are various advantages, including enhanced accessibility, preservation of fragile things, and the chance to reach a larger audience. However, critical problems exist, such as the ethical and cultural consequences. Therefore, considering the numerous viewpoints, it is crucial to approach the digitization process with prudence.

Abstract Keywords
:
Virtualizing Museum, Anthropological Museum, Visual Anthropology