ARCeARCet

ARCeARCet is a fictional augmented reality platform designed to aid archival research by projecting digital context onto physical artifacts. The name merges augmented reality (AR) with archival provenance and cryptographic integrity concepts, reflecting its intended functions of overlaying records while tracking changes to data sources.

In concept, ARCeARCet comprises a lightweight head-mounted display, a mobile or cloud-based backend, and a cryptographic ledger that records provenance and access events. Field devices scan artifact identifiers or coordinates; the client renders overlays with digitized catalogs, related documents, and scholarly notes. Annotations and reactions can be synchronized to a tamper-evident log, supporting provenance audits and versioning. The system emphasizes open data standards to enable interoperability across collections.

Development and reception: ARCeARCet originated in speculative design and academic thought experiments around 2022, proposed by a collaboration of researchers in digital preservation and AR technology. While not adopted as a widely deployed platform, it is discussed in design studies as a reference architecture for blending AR with archival science.

Applications and limitations: In museums, libraries, and fieldwork, ARCeARCet is imagined to improve access to contextual information, facilitate interpretation, and support provenance workflows. Critiques focus on privacy risks, reliance on hardware, potential data overload, and the need for robust governance of the cryptographic ledger.

See also: Augmented reality, Digital preservation, Provenance, Cryptography.