Enhancing Authenticity in XR Heritage: Practitioner Insights and Preliminary Recommendations

Abstract. Extended Reality (XR) applications are increasingly popular in heritage interpretation, leading to significant changes in the emergent digital heritage field. One major challenge is ensuring the objective, constructive, and subjective authenticity of XR experiences deployed in a variety of heritage settings. Through in-depth interviews with practitioners working directly on XR projects for cultural heritage, this paper discusses the theoretical and practical implications of authenticity in such projects. It proposes six preliminary recommendations to help practitioners design more authentic, meaningful XR experiences. Firstly, to enhance objective authenticity, the study suggests rigorous research and appropriate renderings based on historically accurate materials. Secondly, for constructive authenticity, the research emphasizes narrative design that incorporates diverse perspectives, including those of local communities and underrepresented voices, to reflect the social and historical significance of heritage sites more accurately. Thirdly, for subjective authenticity, the recommendations highlight the importance of interactive and immersive design that allows for personalized meaning-making. Finally, the recommendations reinforce the importance of ethics, inclusion, and sustainability across all authenticity concepts.