ZHAW graduate wants to digitise museums with VR technology

On 16 March, the Federal Council declared an "extraordinary situation". For entertainment and leisure businesses, this meant closing. Libraries, cinemas, concert halls and theatres had to do without any visitors from one day to the next. The same applied to museums. How practical would it have been during the lockdown if more art centres had already installed VR?

The two ZHAW graduates Anna-Flurina Kälin and Thomas Stettler have developed an app as part of their bachelor's thesis with which they want to make museums fit for the digital age. What does that mean in concrete terms? "Exhibitions can be created, saved, changed and shared," explains Anna-Flurina Kälin. The solution is called "Varcu": Virtual and Augmented Reality Curation. In other words: curating in and for virtual and augmented reality.

Tool can be extended as required

The two computer scientists are currently in the process of developing a prototype for the Aargauer Kunsthaus. Kälin immediately demonstrates how the app works on her smartphone. She selects the museum's works, places them in the art room and moves them around until they fit. "Museums have many works in their collections that are not accessible," says the 34-year-old. "The app offers the opportunity to show these as well." It is also possible to hang the works in your own living room or to design a room that doesn't even exist. "The tool can be developed further as required," says the Solothurn native, who now lives in Zurich. Another aim is to provide a playful approach to art. Kälin and Stettler want to appeal not only to art fans, but also to those interested in technology. "Augmented reality is still a young technology and is still developing rapidly. New products are exciting in a variety of ways and for a wide range of people."

150,000 francs support

The first museum will be using the app by the end of the year and others will follow in a year and a half, by which time they will have funding. This is because the Gebert Rüf Stiftung's "First Ventures" programme is supporting the business idea with a grant of 150,000 francs. "That's great," says Kälin, adding: "The foundation rarely supports ideas in the cultural sector. This is confirmation that our product and the company's approach are innovative and sensible." She didn't always believe this. That's why it took courage to take the step into entrepreneurship.

Together with her colleague, she founded the software company "freisicht GmbH". "If you look through the phone, you don't have a clear view. And yet the view is clear because you can decide for yourself what you want to see and can see more than what is physically available. Seen in this way, this expansion offers a clear view in the sense of a broadening of horizons."

Source: winterthurer-zeitung