Cultural Heritage Games

Proposer: Hussein Suleman

Abbreviation: CHGames

Brief Description: The Bleek and Lloyd collection of Bushman stories, drawings and dictionaries are world-famous as the last documentary record of the culture of the Bushmen of this region.

Over a period of 5 years, this collection has been digitised and carefully organised into online Web-accessible collections. It is now possible to make use of the collection in teaching, research, performances, exhibitions, etc.

The aim of this project is to create an exhibition of selected (or all) artefacts from the Bleek and Lloyd collection in a game environment using commodity game hardware/software. Using such an environment, the traditionally-flat images can be made more interactive and the visual element can be emphasized. In addition, younger generations of game players may be more likely to learn about heritage in a familiar format rather than through a traditional digital library system.

There have been many similar attempts to capture the essence of digital objects in 3D environments, but most have focused on virtual environments. A focus on games implies exploiting the familiar to appeal to a younger audience.

See http://lloydbleekcollection.cs.uct.ac.za/ and http://lloydbleekcollection.cs.uct.ac.za/dictionaries/.

Computer Science Content: Digital Libraries, Web technology, cultural heritage preservation, game technology/engines

Specific Learning Outcomes: System implementation; research methodology; experimental evaluation.

Skills Required by Team as a Whole:

Theory: Nothing particular.

Implementation: Knowledge of Web technology and XML will be useful. Knowledge of game programming is required.

Other: Excitement about contributing to the preservation of endangered cultures!

Facilities needed: Server and data storage space will be provided as required. Game hardware will be borrowed or bought as needed.

Supervision: Hussein Suleman, with input from the Centre for Curating the Archive (UCT Fine Arts). This project will be hosted within the Digital Libraries Laboratory – students will be encouraged to attend DL activities when relevant or to get input/assistance from senior research students.

Number of Students: 3 or 2