Essay
Module Title: Postdigital Worlds
Coursework title: Essay
Coursework number: CW 1
Hand-in date and time: 4 March 2022 18:00
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Tourist attraction or location – Edinburgh castle in Edinburgh
Introduction
Digital technology allows information of large amounts to be compressed on storage devices and easily transported and preserved. It quickens the speed of data transmission and transforms how individuals communicate, work, and learn. Digital technologies include electronic resources, tools, processes, and equipment that store, generate, and process data (Victoria, 2019). Some of the examples are online games, social media, mobile phones, and multimedia channels. Post-digital is concerned with changing relationship with art forms and digital technologies. According to Cloud Geeni (2019), post-digital is the world where entities are no longer in pursuit of exploration of emerging technologies however implementing the disruptive techs such as artificial intelligence, cloud, and others as standard. The selected case study for this essay is Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, a tourist attraction.
Discussion
Edinburgh Castle is the most popular attraction for tourists located on the extinct volcano at the top of the Royal Mile of Edinburgh (Visit Britain, 2022). It used to be the Chief Royal castle of Scotland in the Middle Ages and is currently home to the Stone of Destiny, Scottish Crown Jewels, One O’Clock Gun, and the National War Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh Castle has served as a military stronghold and royal residence. The present section will explore how Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh has been changed with the inclusion of digital technologies. There will be consideration of some technologies that were used in Edinburgh Castle, the tourist attraction that has affected this palace in some ways.
According to The Scotsman (2018), new digital images have delved into the heart of Edinburgh Castle. It has been digitally documented providing new insights into the landmark. In the Historic Environment of Scotland, scientists have used 3D imaging technology to investigate the Fore Well, the source of water of medieval castle. Such exploration helps in looking at the castle in new lights and gives support in reconstruction. It is found that as a part of broader projects the digital document or scans help in monitoring the castle condition and planning conservation projects for the future. Regarding digital images, Lackovi? (2020) has stated that digital images include games, digital art, photographs in news media or social media along with digital images as used in scientific illustration purposes.
Regarding the 3D modelling system, Murphy (2021) has asserted that one can get a close view of this landmark. This technology has information and gives a virtual tour to visitors of the Castle allowing them to explore the hidden parts. Virtual tours now can appreciate the magnificence and scale of this iconic fortress. The 3D model uses laser scan information captured during the Rae project that focuses on documenting accurately 300 heritage sites digitally. Such innovation helps in understanding, conserving, and sharing the stories that historic sites behold.
In FutureScot (2020), the author has mentioned that the 3D model gives people opportunities to linger on and explore the castle's different areas such as Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig statue, St Margaret’s Chapel, and many others. During lockdown posed by COVID-19, virtual tours have enabled tourists to visit landmarks.
El-Said & Aziz (2022) have discussed that during pandemics the global tourism industry has faced severe disruption that led to adopting innovative approaches including virtual tours to attract potential visors. When pandemic put an unavoidable stop to in-person visits rapid adaptation of virtual tours was required. In order to survive in the tourism market, technological innovations like virtual tours became the sole way to offer heritage or cultural attractions to the customers. A virtual tour is described as a simulation of an area collected of a sequence of video pictures. It is set up accompanied by audio guides, text descriptions, or sound effects. The intention behind the same is to recreate the experience of a real site with associated effects.
Besides providing a virtual tour to tourists, such technologies are helpful in better prediction of risks that may befall on the cultural sites of Edinburgh such as Edinburgh Castle. 3D modelling has highlighted the risks brought up by changes in weather. Digital images, drawings, and other models offered the preservation team essential knowledge of different risks and harm to this historical place (Dick, 2020). The technical models and drawings help in building action plans and are used as a baseline to recognise erosion that may occur in future. Thus, it enables preparation for restoration and repair. Heritage on the Edge draws 2D maps, photography, and 3D models to clarify and ascertain the risk that faced the heritage and battle against climate change.
It is learned from this project that there is a rising rainfall level with porous sandstone and a rise in incidents of drying and wetting, thawing and freezing that increase the decay risk of the restructure. Besides this, the rainfall saturation causing erosion poses safety risks to vehicles, tourists, and pedestrians. It is identified that microwave moisture monitors and thermal imaging are used in pinpointing dampness in ancient walls to track the water leaks. As it is a challenging task in a large and complex structure like Edinburgh Castle, these technologies support maintaining and protecting the sites. On thermal imaging, ElMasry et al. (2020) have stated that this technique records infrared radiation as emitted by any item using infrared detectors. It does not require the use of an illumination source to perform this task.
In the words of Orr, Young & Frost (2019), multi-sensor moisture measurement is used for the conservation of buildings through 3D digital documentation. The authors recorded Argyle Tower, Edinburgh Castle using terrestrial laser scanning to document digitally the properties in care. 3D data incorporates the entirety of the castle including exterior and interior spaces. For this paper, a 3D point cloud dataset by laser scanning was used to form a high-resolution 3D model. 2D plotted moisture data was projected for visualisation with the use of 3D modelling software. The use of digital technologies in research within the Castle has thus contributed to obtaining information on stone barrel vault ceiling that was suspected to have water ingress as the result of exposure, weathering and construction.
It can be said that the use of digital technology has global implications. As Edinburgh Castle has launched a virtual tour using a 3D model, it gives chances to global tourists to view its secret passages. It helps in promoting the historic environment and sites of Scotland besides enhancing the understanding of virtual tourists to protect and take care of such sites.
As per Edinburgh Castle (2022), the historic site has a website enabling potential visitors to book tickets in advance in order to have guaranteed entry. Digital technology has enabled this heritage to place information on its website about the castle giving the potential tourists the details related to visiting hours, commutation, and others. This thus has influenced the opportunity of attracting internet users who might be searching for historical sites to visit without standing in queue for booking tickets. On its website, Edinburgh Castle gives information on Gin made by collaborating with Edinburgh Gin distillery. Thus, it informs visitors beforehand of the things that they can enjoy in their trips to the Castle. In addition to such an experience, visitors can enjoy afternoon tea at the Castle and the details of which are provided on the website of this tourist location.
Website is one of the most common ways to access digital technology, the internet. According to Anwar et al. (2022), varied digital platforms support learning in the digital age. The website serves as a platform for sharing efficient and relevant information. It is a way to present a person, entity, organisation, location, or others to World Wide Web.
Edinburgh castle’s website is filled with information for potential visitors both local and international to plan their trips. For instance, it gives details on the things that visitors can experience during their trips to the castle. It also lures them and develops their intention of making visiting by giving highlights on key attractions such as the Royal Palace and Honours of Scotland. One can learn about the history of the castle and major characters in the history. The digital platform has affected the way the castle is used by visitors. For instance, on its website, there is a description of the ways to hire a venue at the castle for private dining or corporate events and civil ceremonies or weddings. The post-digital era has made this place one of the locations perfect for filming.
There are various properties across the estate that allows photography, and filming (Edinburgh Castle, 2022). This increases the popularity of the heritage site across the globe thus further enticing potential tourists to have a visit.
According to Historic Environment Scotland (2019), Edinburgh Castle has transformed into the ‘castle of light’ with the use of state of art projections. Such initiatives invited visitors to experience the history of the landmark. People thus have the chance to view Scotland's heroes with the impressive lighting installations within the walls of the castle. Digital technology thus has changed the way viewers experience the stories of Edinburgh Castle during the festive season (UKinbound, 2019). This ignites visitors’ passion for visiting historical heritage thus increasing the number of visitors. Moreover, it also induces word of mouth from potential visitors thus increasing the number of visitors in the future and increasing the rank or position of the castle as one of the tourists’ attractions in the UK. It is found that there have been 2,111.6 numbers of visits to the Castle in the year 2018 rising up to 2,201.4 visits in the year 2019 (Statista, 2022).
(For graph, please refer to Appendix)
It is found that Edinburgh Castle is a resource for learning and benefits people from different groups or sectors of society (Edinburgh Castle, 2022). This is learned that this historic place inspires the creativity of learners from different age groups. According to Young (2020), a digital platform such as a 3D model gives visitors a virtual tour. This technology is filled with details that educate and fascinate the users. Therefore, digital tech has transformed the way historical places have implications on people. It has given varieties of options of learning to potential visitors or virtual tourists. In this way, the use of digital technology facilitated the learning aspects of visitors of the Edinburgh Castle thus making it a better source of learning.
Mint (2017) added that scientists of University St Andrews, UK have made a VR application. This enables the users to view Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh as it used to be in 16th Century. This is a prime example of a post-digital era where established digital technologies such as VR and mobile phones are used for the city and surrounding exploration of Edinburgh Castle and its landscape. With the use of smartphones and VR headsets, the users can become virtual time travellers, explore, and learn about the 16th century. The mobile-based applications allow the users to see the application in full-screen mode or immersive VR model. There are hotspots to highlight the scenes with more details and images for enabling better learning. Thus, digital technologies could influence the users’ experience and widen their knowledge about the Castle's heritage. Besides this, it helps maintain the global identity of the palace as the same gives access to global users.
Xiong et al. (2021) described Virtual Reality (VR) as embracing an immersive experience. It is defined as simulated expertise development that is similar to the real-time situation. VR is an imitation of the use of computer devices. It incorporates video and acoustic responses (Singh et al. 2020). Moreover, such a system possesses headsets or a project environment that makes users sense, feel, or interact with the created realistic atmosphere. It is useful in handling real-time issues and learning productively. Elmqaddem (2019) has stated that virtual reality adoption improves and facilitates the enhancement of knowledge, improves decision-making, and leverage memory capacity. Understanding is thus becoming more direct for the users.
The technological inclusion within Edinburgh castle can be aligned with the Neo-Schumpeterian theory of technological evolution. According to Francis (2018), innovation is the generation of new solutions and ideas or novelty. This marks the factor behind socio-economic problem-solving and economic development. Innovation is an evolutionary process that includes dynamism, failures, constant learning, and uncertainties. Technological change as per this theory is dynamic in nature and historical being path-dependent and irrevocable. In the context of Edinburgh Castle, the digital technological innovation is irrevocable as the evolution brought up in the tourism service or other areas of the Castle cannot be reversed. Moreover, the digital innovation brought solutions to the problems associated with tourism service within the Castle.
For instance, based on the discussion provided above it is found that it was facing issues due to climate change thus scientists came up with digital solutions to make better predictions related to weather implications on the heritage sites. Mobile-based apps or the use of state of art technology were novels in the marketing of tourism services. For instance, the 3D model facilitated virtual learning and the provision of virtual tours to tourism. Additionally, the technological innovation integrated into the castle is path-dependent as there is consideration of the historical significance of the heritage in integrating digital technologies. Thus, this model can be effectively aligned with the case of technical innovation in Edinburgh Castle.
Finally, this can be put forward that the major digital technologies that were made into use in Edinburgh castle in Edinburgh were a 3D model or imaging technology, website, state of art projection technology or system, VR enables mobile application and others. They have made some transformations in the palace as in enhancing the system of predicting issues that may befall on heritage or attracting visitors. There has been a better influence on the marketing of tourism services through 3D modelling and VR. Furthermore, information sharing has been developed with website development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the tourism industry is facing disruption due to severe lockdown, a virtual tour through an app enabled the castle to stay connected with the past and potential visitors.
Conclusion
It is concluded from the given discussion on the case of Edinburgh Castle and digital technology that the former has enhanced tourist experience with the use of the latter. Post-digital advancements have allowed the palace to make solutions for some of the issues related to providing tourism service during a lockdown or addressing the climate change impact on historical buildings. With the incorporation of digital techs, Edinburgh Castle could enhance tourists' experience it has enabled marketing of the tourism sites and facilitated learning for the tourists. There is the alignment of relevant theory related to digital technology that explains the reasons behind the use of digital technology by this heritage. There is the use of academic literature that supports the discussion on digital technological support in the Castle.
References
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