Interaction and Information Communication in Virtual Museums

The present paper deals with aspects of information communication and interaction in virtual museums. The information communication methods deployed in virtual museums partially take advantage of virtual environments' capabilities while interaction with the exhibits and the exhibition space remains a challenging task for non experienced users. A demonstrative virtual museum is implemented, in which: (i) interactive information communication methods based on conventional information communication methods; and (ii) interaction and navigation assistance methods are developed, tested and proposed. The proposed navigation assistance method is examined further by the conduction of a set of user tests designed to evaluate its effectiveness and test results show its positive effect. In conclusion, guidelines for future work regarding the effectiveness of the interactive information communication methods, especially as the virtual reality technologies and natural interaction interfaces emerge, are drawn.