ArKinect = Archaeology + Kinect
Archaeologists are hoping to utilize a modified version of Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect to scan future excavations. At present the technology only works indoors, but a team of scientists at UCSD are working to adapt the technology to allow it to work on location, thus providing 3-D scans of unearthed materials, which would aid in preservation efforts, cataloging, and making models of the sites for researchers to study the finds remotely.
“A realistic 3-D portrayal of ancient cookware, for instance, would be a lot more valuable than a 2-D photograph, because it would show more detail and craftsmanship and even help researchers understand how an artifact was used.”
In addition, scientists estimate that this adaptation of existent gaming technology also has the potential to scan and digitize debris following natural disasters, thus assisting in recovery efforts.
