Effects of Interactive Experiences on Memory in a Virtual Museum

Virtual Reality (VR) technology profoundly influences museums by facilitating artifact collection, preservation, and remote accessibility to traditional cultures. VR transcends physical constraints, enabling visitors to engage with exhibits across diverse locations. The effective utilization of content is crucial for constructing a virtual domain that evokes a positive impression and fosters memories. This experimental study aimed to scrutinize the influence of interactive and non-interactive content on visitors' memory and attractiveness while engaging with VR in museum environments. Simulated exhibition halls feature three rooms with interactive content, such as opening windows to view videos, manipulating and observing 3D models of exhibits, and pressing buttons to explore the relationships between exhibits. Additionally, the three rooms featured non-interactive content. Twenty-four participants observed all virtual museum content, evaluating recognition memory and attractiveness through questionnaires. The experimental results, analyzed via average scores, reveal significantly higher memory scores for interactive content with no difference in perceived attractiveness. Interactive content enhances memory efficiency without affecting attractiveness perception, emphasizing its pivotal role in creating impactful visitor experiences.