INF206

Blog 4: Virtual and augmented reality

The advantage of virtual or augmented reality

The Libraries or information organization is to use virtual or augmented reality (VR/AR) that can bring some advantage and this advantage also can implement part of libraries mission. Dahya et al (2021) claimed that “Known socioeconomic inequities make access to information, education and technology in public libraries important for many people, especially those in low income settings” (Dahya et al., 2021, p. 1). Spreading information and support education is all of us have to achieve libraries mission. VR/AR are one of Information and communications technology (ICT). Hannah et al (2019) described that “virtual and augmented reality artifacts are products of knowledge generation processes that encourage users to explore new information through the virtual environment” (Hannah et al., 2019, p. 1). In the future, we can forecast that it will common used in the libraries or information organization. The VR/AR of technology would use virtual environment to user just like in person experience. This technology can recreate some place and history event. It can give them well user experience and attract more learning desire and action. The libraries collections were enriched by 3D dimension images. User also can through 3D dimension images product to use different collections from libraries.

The disadvantage of virtual or augmented reality

The disadvantage of use VR/AR technology, the libraries or information organizations may not enough budgets to afford the cost of VR/AR technology using. The libraries or information organizations are facing the stress of economic. They always under the university or government and personal organizations so they also rely on annual budget support from financial department of organization to operate their function. The libraries always are a budget cutting target. Actual libraries also need great financial support to pay the human resources, collection and device acquisition, the cost of database and server maintenance. Indeed VR/AR have a advantage for the libraries or information organizations but too expensive and VR/AR using are rely on familiarity with the technology. Although different business firms produce and research about VR/AR infrastructure for achieve this technology in different aspect such as education, gaming ET … al. Some libraries or information organizations just have limit budget so Google Cardboard is a low cost choice for them but the user experience is not be well. Samsung offers a more advanced option with its Gear VR. While more affordable, the experience on smartphones is less immersive compared to devices that have been designed specifically for VR. Navigating permissions and ownership of VR/AR content is an issue will lead to additional cost.  We will need to determine how to deal with objects that do not have clear developers or copyright holders.

References

Dahya, N., King, W. E., Lee, K. J., & Lee, J. H. (2021). Perceptions and experiences of virtual reality in public libraries. Journal of Documentation, 77(3), 617-637. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-04-2020-0051

Hannah, M., Huber, S., & Matei, S. A. (2019). Collecting virtual and augmented reality in the twenty-first century library. Collection Management, 44(2-4), 277-295. doi:10.1080/01462679.2019.1587673

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References

Burton, S. (2019). Future skills for the LIS profession. Online Searcher, 43(2), 42-45.