Creating a Haptic 3D Model of Wenceslas Hill in Olomouc

Interactivity in today's society finds its way into many facets of life and can be used in various ways, including 3D printing. For example, various 3D models can be incorporated into museum exhibitions and serve as interactive media for visitors, deepening their experience. One of the advantages of haptic 3D models is the immediate haptic feedback. Such models can have various uses, from being a part of an interactive exhibition to providing assistance to people with visual impairment. This article describes the process of creating a haptic 3D model depicting Wenceslas Hill in Olomouc in the eighteenth century. The model has several surface elements printed from conductive material that react to touch. The interactive model itself is unchanged from its original modelled 3D version, meaning the shape of the object stays the exact same throughout modifications. The resulting model conveys additional information about the object or its parts by means of a web interface via a connected tablet device. To implement the desired functionality, TouchIt3D technology was used. This technology uses a combination of conductive and non-conductive materials for 3D printing. The conductive material serves to propagate an electrical signal caused by touching a chosen part of the model. A 3D printer with two extruders was used for printing the model, allowing simultaneous printing of two different materials. The model's scalability is advantageous for potential use by people with visual impairment. The model shall serve as a tool for enriching historical knowledge about the object by using interactivity.