Jerusalem's Holy Mount. On Palimpsestic Places in Situated and Sensory Media

Abstract

The aim of this simulation is to provide visitors to one of the world's most contested places with a rich experience of the ties that bind the Abrahamic religions together by means of mobile augmented reality. What would we gain if people of different backgrounds and beliefs visiting the site could explore and experience this rich history on location directly and simultaneously? And, how may we provide an arena for public discourse about such experiences? The paper reports on the use of a mobile augmented reality simulation that reconstructs some of the most important structures on the central part of the Mount. This situated simulation (sitsim) shows how the various epochs and religions have occupied and exploited the same holy place. We describe our design decisions and experience thus far, and indicate further development of the application.