Microsoft to digitally preserve ancient Greece
Thanks to a deal between the Greek government and Microsoft, twenty-seven ancient Greek monuments are to be digitally preserved in a brand new virtual reality project.
The key behind such an endeavour is Microsoft's HoloLens, augmented reality smart glasses built with optical sensors capable of simulating holograms. Visitors of the Olympic Museum in Athens can use HoloLens headsets specially made to produce a 3D presentation of ancient Greek structures. Monuments you can view this way include the original Olympic Stadium and the temples of the Olympic deities Zeus and Hera.
The VR version of ancient Olympia is made to be as accurate as possible to the actual historical sites. It includes details on how the structures deteriorated over time, aiming to teach broader Greek history to museum visitors. HoloLens will also be able to display information regarding important artefacts and archaeological findings: all in a fully digitized setting.
Iconem, a partner company of Microsoft, was in charge of the 3D digitization. With an AI specifically designed for cultural heritage preservation, Iconem was able to process thousands of images of famous Greek monuments into fully-fleshed 3D models. These models correlate with existing information about Greek culture and history, combining into the rich virtual database available in the Athens Olympic Museum.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, expressed delight at working together with Microsoft. He stated that the cultural implications of 3D technology are limitless. Because of this joint venture, people from all around the world can "virtually visit the birthplace of democracy, and experience history first hand".
Regarding the project, Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, claimed that this "stunning achievement in cultural heritage" bridges the gap for future generations in exploring the stories of the past.
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