Digital wizardry brings cultural heritage to life

Enamel veneer

Cloisonne production was one of the many subjects explained through high-tech methods at the expo, which was hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to bring intangible cultural heritage items closer to the public.

The expo, which ran from Oct 17 to 21, showcased the achievements of China's intangible cultural heritage protection over the 20 years since it joined the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, according to the ministry.

More cultural items have made their presence felt in the modern age with the aid of technology.

Tai chi has recently increased in popularity among young people, and some of them have practiced the martial art with the help of a virtual instructor. The virtual guide was developed by the Henan Intangible Cultural Heritage Creative and Intelligent Design Lab at Zhengzhou University of Light Industry based in Henan province.

Tai chi originated in Henan's Wenxian county and is characterized by relaxed, circular movements that work in concert with regulated breathing and the cultivation of a righteous and neutral mind.

The virtual system immerses users in various tai chi practice sites, including the ancestral hall of its founders, a peaceful natural environment, and a modern martial arts training center. It intends to give them insight into the profound culture behind tai chi and provide an ideal learning environment.

"You can see them in action dressed in cosplay costumes," Zhang Qian, director of the lab, said.

"During the initial stage of scene design, our team conducted research and found that many tai chi enthusiasts prefer practicing in specific environments," Zhang added.

His team wrote computer code for each function, covering real-time user movement detection, gesture recognition, and evaluations. "We adopted Kinect technology to achieve motion-sensing interaction, providing users with a real experience," Zhang said.

Users begin the immersive tai chi experience by standing inside a blue circle and raising their right hand. So far, the system offers eight classic tai chi movements.

"It guides users through each movement using on-screen text, voice prompts, and real video demonstrations. Using Kinect's skeletal tracking, the system compares users' movements to the preset standard movements and provides real-time feedback such as 'perfect' or 'good' or 'try again', helping users adjust their movements," Zhang explained.

A rating system encourages users to work their way through levels of difficulty and hone their skills.

Before the interactive program's launch in July, Zhang said his team had conducted extensive surveys on different age groups and careers, and optimized the design according to the feedback.

The goal was to enable more people to experience the unique charm of tai chi firsthand, he said.

In 2020, tai chi was included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.