Analyzing the Design of Virtual Humans in Chinese Museums: A Case Study of “Ai Wenwen”

Abstract

In the current digital era, an increasing number of virtual humans entered the public's field of vision.Museum virtual humans introduced innovative exhibition forms for Chinese museums.However, focusing solely on external appearances without considering intrinsic features helped virtual humans realize their maximum potential.Currently, many Chinese museums blindly emulate successful foreign cases, leading to confusion in fundamental theoretical boundaries and neglect of key theoretical and practical aspects, becoming a significant issue in designing museum virtual humans in China.Therefore, there was a need for clearer theoretical and practical guidance in the design of virtual humans for Chinese museums.This paper delved into the theoretical implications of museum virtual humans and outlined the technological development process.Utilizing literature review methods and comparative analysis, it compared the characteristics of real museum staff with those of museum virtual humans, clarifying the latter's advantages.Combining the current status of museum virtual humans in China with an information model for these virtual entities, the paper proposed characteristics in three aspects: appearance, media forms, and service systems, guiding theoretical practice.Building upon this foundation, the paper conducted a case analysis of the relatively "Ai Wenwen" virtual human, examining the feasibility of the identified characteristics in the design of museum virtual humans in China.In addition, the comparative analysis of museum virtual humans and real museum staff sheds light on the advantages of virtual humans, offering valuable insights into their practical application in Chinese museums.The research results offered clear direction for the theoretical guidance of museum virtual humans and provided insights into the practical design of virtual humans in Chinese museums.

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