Amiais@SL: A Metaverse Simulator to Support Playful Engagement in Learning About Cultural Heritage

The cultural heritage of rural communities is at risk as their populations age and their social and economic structures deteriorate. That is the case of Amiais, a small rural Portuguese village, in which only 15 inhabitants remain, mostly older adults. Therefore, the preservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage of these rural regions, such as Amiais, has become an urgent concern. ICT, and particularly virtual 3D worlds or metaverses, such as Second Life® (SL), have been playing an important role in this matter, offering new possibilities for enhancing and preserving culture and allowing people to learn about and experience culture in new and exciting ways. This paper describes the design and development of a simulation of Amiais village in SL (Amiais@SL), in which visitors can engage in gamified immersive cultural experiences, learn about the village and its cultural heritage, interact with virtual agents, and participate in cultural activities through different virtual tours and challenges.