Recovering the History of Bergen Belsen Using an Interactive 3D Reconstruction in a Mixed Reality Space: the Role of Pre-knowledge on Memory Recollection

Abstract

The question addressed by our work is twofold: On the one hand we want to contribute to the preservation of the Holocaust cultural heritage using digital technology, on the other hand, we want to investigate the impact of pre-knowledge on context information when this information is acquired in a virtual environment. Specifically, we wanted to investigate the user experience after factual or emotional information prior exposure to a virtual environment showing historical information, in this case related to the Holocaust. We developed a 3D reconstruction of the delousing building of the Bergen Belsen concentration camp and deployed it in an interactive mixed reality space. Here the user was engaged in a guided tour of the delousing building and was exposed to factual information on the configuration of the building and its history through pictures and a narrating voice. The results of our study show that prior knowledge i.e ''emotional vs factual'' affects memory recollection and thus our ability to retain relevant information. The outcome of our study supports the usefulness of digital and interactive technologies as a tool to recover and preserve cultural heritage.