The metaverse has emerged as an exciting new paradigm for human-computer interaction (HCI) and virtual collaboration. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the metaverse to address the gap in the existing literature where there is a lack of a survey that reviews the nature of the metaverse and its building blocks from a human-centric perspective. We first synthesize a definition of the metaverse from existing literature and delineate key affordances. We then introduce a detailed framework encompassing the metaverse’s nature, infrastructure technologies, and input/output technologies that facilitate multi-sensory HCI, alongside applications across diverse domains. The components within this framework are explained in depth, offering insights into the metaverse’s nature and the readiness level of current technologies. Based on this comprehensive analysis, we outline major open challenges and propose promising directions demanding further exploration and investigation. By clarifying the vision for the metaverse and characterizing the building blocks required to realize it, this review provides essential insights and serves as an invaluable resource for metaverse developers and researchers working to advance this transformative new medium. 

Human-Centered Interaction in Virtual Worlds: A New Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence and Metaverse

Museum artifacts are the main way for visitors to experience and learn about cultural heritage. Augmented reality (AR) allows for high interactivity and is increasingly applied in museums to improve tourists’ experience and learning. It also supports the extension of museum experience to outside of the physical museum space, contributing to the visiting trajectory and takeaway experience. In this paper, we present our design of two tangible AR interfaces for cultural artifacts: Postcard AR and CubeMuseum AR, followed by three user studies that evaluate and optimize the design. In Study 1, we conducted a within-subjects study (N = 24) that compares the two AR interfaces with a baseline condition (Leaflet). Our results demonstrate the positive effects of tangible AR interfaces on users’ motivation and engagement in learning cultural heritage. In Study 2, we further explored how to optimize CubeMuseum AR by adopting a user-centered design approach. Through the analysis of expert interviews (N = 7) and an online survey (N = 207), the results specify a series of requirements and design guidelines for tangible AR interfaces to be used as a learning tool and a hybrid gift. Based on the findings, the design of the CubeMuseum AR was optimized and evaluated in Study 3. A between-subjects user study was conducted (N = 32) to compare the optimized design with the initial design. The results verified the positive effects of gamified tangible AR interfaces on users’ motivation, engagement, and performance in learning cultural heritage. We present our design and evaluation results, and discuss the implications of designing tangible AR interfaces for cultural heritage learning and museum gifting. 

CubeMuseum AR: A Tangible Augmented Reality Interface for Cultural Heritage Learning and Museum Gifting

Microbial resources from the human gut may find use in various applications, such as empirical research on the microbiome, the development of probiotic products, and bacteriotherapy. Due to the development of “culturomics”, the number of pure bacterial cultures obtained from the human gut has significantly increased since 2012. However, there is still a considerable number of human gut microbes to be isolated and cultured. Thus, to improve the efficiency of obtaining microbial resources from the human gut, some constraints of the current methods, such as labor burden, culture condition, and microbial targetability, still need to be optimized. Here, we overview the general knowledge and recent development of culturomics for human gut microorganisms. Furthermore, we discuss the optimization of several parts of culturomics including sample collection, sample processing, isolation, and cultivation, which may improve the current strategies.

/pdf/isolation-and-cultivation-of-human-gut-microorganisms-a-2v5kywqq.pdf

Isolation and Cultivation of Human Gut Microorganisms: A Review

The recent developments of Augmented Reality (AR) have revolutionised various industries, including the heritage industry. Cultural organisations are embracing AR applications to enhance the experience of their heritage assets. The heritage industries widely use this state-of-the-art technology to create the missing sparks from their static environment. However, there are very limited review studies that have focussed on investigating factors such as characteristics of AR, classifications of cultural heritage (CH), use-cases, technologies, techniques, interfaces, platforms and the specific challenges faced in this context. This study aims to bridge this gap by conducting a systematic review of AR applications in the context of cultural heritage, referred to as AR-CH. A total of forty-five works published between the years 2013–2023 in the top 7 most popular indexed databases are reviewed. The systematic review has been conducted using the Kitchenham method, and the analysis of the findings was carried out using the PRISMA method. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current state of AR-CH systems and outlines the research directions that require more investigation. 

Augmented reality systems in the cultural heritage domains: A systematic review

ABSTRACT This study investigated the determinants of intention to reuse augmented reality (AR) apps. The data were obtained from 439 IKEA Place app users and evaluated using the ‘partial least squares’ (PLS) and ‘fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis’ (fsQCA) approaches. PLS findings revealed that AR attributes significantly influence perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and confirmation. All the relationships under the technology continuance theory were confirmed except for the impact of perceived usefulness on attitude. Recreational consciousness positively moderates the influence of attitude on reuse intentions. fsQCA approach uncovered seven configurations of variables that result in high reuse intentions and identified satisfaction as a necessary condition. The study contributed to the literature by (i) exploring the drivers of intention to reuse AR Apps, (ii) extending technology continuance theory, (iii) demonstrating the moderating influence of recreational consciousness, and (iv) using the PLS-fsQCA approach. The findings help develop strategies and design AR apps aimed at retaining users.

Reuse intention of augmented reality apps: recreational consciousness as moderator

Cultural heritage (CH) plays an important role in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this paper, we focus on emerging technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and gamified learning to foster public understanding of cultural values in historical contexts. We design HeritageSite AR, an exploration game for onsite CH learning and visits with publics in Relics of Arhat Monastery and Twin Pagoda (also known as Shuangta). Based on research investigation of technical means, expert semi-structured interviews and online survey, we distill and incorporate four design goals using user journey map. The implemented game design is evaluated with respect to three design components (i.e., reality, meaning, play) and four stages (i.e., trigger, engage, consolidate, relate) in CH visits. We conclude our work with a discussion of contributions to SDGs.

HeritageSite AR: An Exploration Game for Quality Education and Sustainable Cultural Heritage✱

Mobile Augmented Reality (AR) is becoming increasingly afford-able and popular with the constantly improving computing power of mobile devices and the popularity of smartphones and tablets. In this paper, we present a user study that investigates user retention of mobile AR in cultural heritage learning. We developed a mobile AR application that allows users to observe 3D models of museum arti-facts and learn about their culture and history. Participants achieved a knowledge retention rate of 78.21%, indicating the positive effects of mobile AR on cultural heritage learning. We performed a structural equation modeling analysis (N=50) to investigate the effects of usability, satisfaction, emotional attachment, focus of attention, and flow experience on user retention of mobile AR. The analysis results confirmed that user satisfaction and flow experience positively affect user retention. Usability and focus of attention contribute positively to user satisfaction and flow experience respectively.

User Retention of Mobile Augmented Reality for Cultural Heritage Learning

ABSTRACT Transmission of bacterial endospores between the environment and people and the following germination in vivo play critical roles in both the deadly infections of some bacterial pathogens and the stabilization of the commensal microbiotas in humans. Our knowledge about the germination process of different bacteria in the mammalian gut, however, is still very limited due to the lack of suitable tools to visually monitor this process. We proposed a two-step labeling strategy that can image and quantify the endospores’ germination in the recipient’s intestines. Endospores collected from donor’s gut microbiota were first labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate and transplanted to mice via gavage. The recipient mice were then administered with Cyanine5-tagged D-amino acid to label all the viable bacteria, including the germinated endospores, in their intestines in situ. The germinated donor endospores could be distinguished by presenting two types of fluorescent signals simultaneously. The integrative use of cell-sorting, 16S rDNA sequencing, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) staining of the two-colored bacteria unveiled the taxonomic information of the donor endospores that germinated in the recipient’s gut. Using this strategy, we investigated effects of different germinants and pre-treatment interventions on their germination, and found that germination of different commensal bacterial genera was distinctly affected by various types of germinants. This two-color labeling strategy shows its potential as a versatile tool for visually monitoring endospore germination in the hosts and screening for new interventions to improve endospore-based therapeutics.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/19490976.2022.2125737?needAccess=true

Visualizing germination of microbiota endospores in the mammalian gut

Digitization is becoming a significant trend in cultural learning. In this context, we present TimeQuestAR, an interactive board game to foster public interest and understanding of culture within the ancient capital of China, Jinling. The design grounded in the principles of situated visualization, offers users immersive, contextually rich experiences that deepen their understanding of historical and cultural narratives. We provide an overview of TimeQuestAR and conduct a user evaluation through in-depth interviews. Our findings indicate that the prototype shows promising potential to promote cultural learning through playful experiences. Drawing from these findings, we propose design suggestions and delve into the prospective value of the design in education, business, and culture.

TimeQuestAR: Unfolding Cultural Narratives via Situated Visualizations

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