XR Beyond the Museum:
Public Engagement in the Everyday
When people think of 3D and XR, they often imagine headsets in galleries or tech showcases in museums. But there’s a quieter revolution happening, XR is starting to appear in places where people don’t expect it. Libraries. Parks. Hospitals. Town halls.
And that’s a good thing.
Because when immersive tech meets every day public life, it unlocks something powerful: accessibility, participation, and inclusion.
Here’s how (and where) we’re starting to see this shift, and why it matters for the future of public engagement.
From Specialist to Familiar
In many cultural and educational spaces, 3D imaging is still seen as a bonus, a nice-to-have if budgets and expertise allow. But as tools like Elata bring down the cost and complexity of 3D capture, it becomes easier to imagine XR in more familiar, everyday environments.
Think:
A local library offering a 3D storytelling corner
A hospital art programme scanning objects for patients to explore in XR
A community centre collecting digital memories of local buildings
A planning office using 3D overlays in public consultations
What once required specialist kit and staff is now achievable with off-the-shelf hardware and lightweight AI tools.
Why It Works Outside the Gallery
Traditional museum XR experiences often rely on curated narratives and controlled environments. That’s great, but public engagement can thrive in messier, more participatory settings.
What changes when XR is outside the institution?
People engage on their own terms
There’s less pressure to “understand” or “get it right”
Local relevance becomes the focus, not just historical value
Interaction feels less like an event and more like a conversation
In parks, libraries, or even bus stops, XR becomes a tool for curiosity, not just interpretation.
3D as Dialogue, Not Just Display
One of the most promising uses of XR in the public realm is for consultation and co creation. For example:
Visualising proposed buildings or renovations in 3D
Allowing residents to annotate digital models with feedback
Using 3D scans of real places to ground planning discussions
These approaches are already in play in forward-thinking councils and heritage initiatives. They don’t require expensive VR setups, just accessible tools that work on tablets or smartphones.
Crucially, 3D becomes a shared reference point, not just a presentation layer.
Bridging the Digital Divide
We know that not everyone is online, and not everyone is comfortable with tech. That’s why placing XR in everyday spaces matters so much. It helps:
Demystify the technology
Make cultural participation feel open and unthreatening
Reach those who don’t seek out museums or tech hubs
Offer low-pressure, walk-up experiences that build confidence
For libraries, local events, or outreach teams, XR can be a doorway rather than a destination, one that invites people in without needing prior experience.
Final Thoughts:
Reclaiming the Everyday
If we want technology to support inclusion, creativity, and public value, it can’t stay locked in institutions or behind high-end interfaces. It needs to be present, flexible, and rooted in everyday life.
At Aralia, we believe that 3D and XR should be part of the public realm, not just the digital realm. Tools like Elata are helping us make that vision real, whether in a museum, a field tent, or a local library.
Because the more places XR goes, the more people it can reach, and the more stories it can help tell.
