Fostering collaboration among restoration professionals using Augmented Reality.

Augmented Reality (AR) has proven to provide effective tools to assist the human work in a wide range of sectors. Many examples can be found in literature of innovative AR tools used in medicine, industry and the military sector. We argue that also the activity of professional operators dealing with cultural assets, such as restorers, can benefit from the use of AR system. We have carried out a series of interviews in the field of restoration in order to identify the real needs of restorers addressable by an Augmented Reality system. We have identified two AR-based devices, exemplary of two classes of AR systems, which we believe can provide a valuable support to the restoration activities and can foster communication and collaboration among restorers. The two systems have been evaluated by the restoration professionals in the survey.