Augmented Reality in Cultural Heritage: A Systematic Review of Mobile Applications and User Experience Evaluation

Abstract

This systematic review compares four leading AR applications for cultural heritage interpretation, providing comprehensive insights for future AR development in cultural contexts. It analyzes Google Lens, Civilisations AR, Timelooper, and Artivive across technological methods, user experiences, and effectiveness at cultural heritage sites. Drawing on peer-reviewed studies from 2017 -2025, sourced from academic databases including Google Scholar, the review highlights diverse implementation strategies and immersion levels through systematic comparative analysis. Results demonstrate that Google Lens excels in AI-driven accessibility, Civilisations AR in 3D educational depth, Timelooper in narrative immersion, and Artivive in dynamic art overlays. The findings suggest that next-generation AR applications should adopt hybrid approaches combining the best features of each model while addressing current limitations in content scalability and user engagement.

Keywords

• Augmented reality
• Cultural heritage
• Digital transformation
• Mobile applications
• User experience

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