Contribution short abstract:

When artisans retire, they leave no means of preserving their expertise to intricate extend. By using immersive technologies, it aims to safeguard techniques and enhance learning through virtual guides, making complex skills accessible and also engaging for younger generations.

Contribution long abstract:

The goal of experimentation with immersive technologies within traditional crafts is twofold. Firstly, individual manual operations are a key element of crafts. These are very specific to each artisan. Therefore at the end of a craftsperson’s career, their knowledge, if not guarded in some way, is lost. Immersive technologies could support the safeguarding of the highly personal developed skills of craftspeople. Providing some sort of technique library or instructional assistance throughout different applications. Secondly, learning crafts is a long-term commitment. New apprentices might struggle with the complexity and spatial understanding of certain explanations given by instructors. In the current space, craft experts are limited in teaching by their words, writing and recordings. Introducing virtual guides for assistance in the craft process can enhance, not only the overall learning process, but also benefit the deeper understanding of techniques and manual operations. Being involved with these immersive technologies might also attract the younger generations, giving them an engaging starting point from which to develop their skill depending on their level of interest. Wickerwork specifically is a labour-intensive craft and requires time to truly master. Not only are the hand operations important but the correct material handling is crucial. Augmented reality was used for the experiment setup through an iPad with ArUco markers that are powered by an Adobe Aero project, providing virtual overlays that are anchored real time to the reference object, which in this case was a wicker starter cross, the first step of the wicker basket making process.