For those who can’t visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in person, the museum, in partnership with Verizon and production company UNIT9, launched a virtual art and gaming experience where approximately 50 works of art can be admired. Powered by Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband, The Met Unframed virtual adventure invites art enthusiasts to explore the museum’s galleries and play some interesting games to unlock augmented reality arts which can be “taken” home and virtually displayed on your walls, if the games are successfully completed.
The AR experience can be accessed from any 4G or 5G smart devices and is available for free for a limited five-week run. If visitors access the experience on a PC, they are invited to switch to a mobile device by scanning a QR code. Four of the AR works of art are updated with activations accessible to users on Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband. Thanks to the high-speed responsiveness and ultra-low lag, the virtual visitors can watch as some masterpieces take shape in AR.
Andrew McKechnie, Chief Creative Officer, Verizon, says: “The Met Unframed enhances digital inclusivity for an audience that may never have experienced art in such a personal way. Through the power of technology and enhancements enabled by Verizon 5G, we’re able to provide extensive access, in-depth education, and opportunities for interactivity and sharing around beloved works of art from one of the world’s most renowned museums.”
By accessing this experience, visitors land in the Museum’s Great Hall which acts as a kind of portal to four galleries: Power, Home, Nature, and Journey. At the beginning of the digital adventure, a tutorial will be your guide so that you can completely immerse yourself in this universe. Follow the arrows on the floor to move and press the buttons next to the banners of each gallery to get access to it.
Once you’re in, you’ll notice a symbol of a magnifying glass next to the art objects. This is a key that gives you details about the works of art. But the “Unframe AR-t” button is what makes this interactive experience truly amazing. Analyze and examine what you see on the walls to discover the secrets behind the work of art. Once you decipher the mystery, you can “take” the art home on loan for 15 minutes and place it wherever you want.
Max Hollein, Director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, commented: “The Met Unframed brings the Museum to audiences wherever they are in an innovative viewing experience in which users can virtually visit iconic spaces and engage with The Met’s masterpieces, learn more about the works in a playful way through AR, and enjoy bringing the art into one’s own surroundings. The Met Unframed expands the ways in which we can understand, experience, and appreciate art.”
The project was designed by UNIT9 and developed using the latest in web AR and emerging mobile technology combined with The Met’s digital, educational, and curatorial teams. Based on The Met’s collection of images, 3D artists were able to model the high-fidelity gallery and art renderings.
Credits:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Verizon
Production company: UNIT9