Amazonian Pictograms, Ecuadorian Shuar Culture Applied in Augmented Reality AR for Cultural Dissemination

Abstract

The original ethnic in Ecuador, have cultural representations great diversity. For example, Shuar culture cosmovision is represented in its graphics, pictograms and icons. However, the knowledge about is low. This research is a study case which analyzes the Augmented Reality AR usefulness, in Shuar culture icons dissemination. The study was carried out in two moments, a development stage with a qualitative research approach, through interviews with Shuar representatives to obtain information. Also, meetings were held with informed cultural managers in ancestral knowledge. Besides, through non-participant field observation, was possible to obtain data on their graphic expressions. This allowed to synthesize 10 main pictograms, which express their worldview conception, understanding of the world and their social organization. With obtained information, an AR APP was developed which contains 3D modeled and animated pictograms. The second research stage, consisted of evaluating its perception, within a focus group made up of Shuar community members, tourists and Macas city people. The results about positive assessment are 83% its usability can be highlighted and 100% contents understanding. Also, ICT, mainly AR, could be of great help for Ecuadorian ancestral cultures knowledge that collaborates with cultural tourism.