PENAMPANG: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) hopes to use interactive technology to help preserve the state's heritage.
Ryan Macdonell Andrias, spokesperson for the Faculty of Computing and Informatics at UMS, said the facully was collaborating with the Sabah Cultural Board for an interactive technology exhibition during the Kaamatan festival held here.
"The Creative Computing Research Group, which is under the faculty, utilises interactive technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and Interactive 360° videos to develop products that can be showcased to visitors.
"By employing such technology, we can attract people, particularly youngsters and children, to learn about our heritage.
"As a university, this is our way of contributing back to society by utilising our expertise," said Ryan, who is in charge of the project, during an interview at the Hongkod Koisaan.
He added there were five lecturers, including himself, and six students involved in the project for the past two months.
During the exhibition today and tomorrow, Ryan said visitors could use a smartphone application to access AR videos, games, storybooks, and arts.
The public also can experience eight types of cultural dances, including Adai-Adai, Daling-Daling and Sazau Papar, through virtual reality headsets for an immersive 360-degree experience.
"Today, many visitors have inquired about purchasing our products.
"However, at the moment, they are merely proof of concept to demonstrate how interactive technology can be used for documenting and preserving culture.
"We hope that this will lead to a collaboration between UMS and the Sabah Cultural Board to undertake similar projects on a larger scale."
Sabah is home to 35 ethnic groups and 217 subethnicities.