Virtual Museums: A Fresh Look at History or Trouble for Traditional Museums?
Description
This podcast episode features a conversation between David Mullett and Tomas, a former car designer turned entrepreneur who now specializes in using drones for mapping out historical sites and contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage through digital recreations. They discuss the transition from automotive design to entrepreneurship, the technical aspects of creating digital twins of historical sites, and the potential future of virtual reality in museums and education. The conversation also touches on the challenges and rewards of starting and running a tech-based company, the impact of AI and new technologies on their work, and the balance between preserving history and embracing the future.
Key Takeaways
Transition to Entrepreneurship: Tomas shares his journey from a car designer at Volkswagen to founding a company that merges his design skills with drone technology to digitally recreate and preserve historical sites.
Technical Process: The discussion goes into the technical side of using photogrammetry and laser scanning to create highly accurate 3D models of sites, crucial for cultural preservation and educational purposes.
Impact of Virtual Reality: Tomas highlights how virtual reality can revolutionize the way we interact with history, making it more accessible and engaging, especially for younger generations.
Challenges and Rewards of Entrepreneurship: Both reflect on the ups and downs of starting a business, emphasizing the hard decisions, the learning curve, and the satisfaction of pursuing a passion.
Future of Technology and Heritage: They speculate on the future role of AI and new technologies in further enhancing the preservation of cultural heritage and education.
Timestamps
00:04 - Introduction: David Mullett introduces the episode and welcomes Tomas.
00:19 - Catching Up: Tomas shares what he's been up to, mentioning holidays and family time.
00:41 - David reflects on his recent break and the importance of rest.
01:07 - Christmas in Slovakia: Tomas discusses spending Christmas in Slovakia and enjoying snowboarding.
02:03 - Concerns About Winter Sports: David shares his hesitations about engaging in winter sports due to injury risks.
02:25 - Transition to Main Topic: The conversation shifts towards Tomas's career change from car design to entrepreneurship.
03:09 - Tomas's Background: Tomas talks about his background in design and his transition to working with drones and 3D modeling.
05:30 - Decision to Focus on the Business: Tomas discusses making the leap from his job to fully committing to his business.
06:27 - Reflecting on Leaving a Dream Job: Tomas reflects on the decision to leave Volkswagen.
08:22 - Introduction to Photogrammetry and Laser Scanning: Tomas explains the technical process behind creating digital twins of historical sites.
11:38 - Projects on Ancient Wonders: Discussion about working on digital recreations of the pyramids in Egypt.
13:25 - Showcase of Recent Project: Tomas describes a recent project involving the digital recreation of a castle.
15:28 - The Future of Museums: Speculation on how virtual reality could transform museum experiences.
17:04 - Role in Uncovering Historical Insights: Tomas clarifies their role in visualizing findings rather than uncovering new ones.
19:47 - Funding for Projects: Discussion about the sources of funding for their projects, including private and governmental support.
22:34 - Challenges in Cultural Heritage Sector: Tomas talks about the initial challenges of integrating their technology into cultural heritage preservation.
24:18 - Preparing for Scans: The preparation process for scanning projects is discussed.
26:11 - Project Timelines: Tomas provides insight into how long projects typically take from start to finish.
27:31 - Drone Technology and Costs: A look into the technology and costs associated with their drones.
30:45 - Drone Incidents: Sharing experiences with drone crashes and the risks involved.
33:28 - Applications in VR and Gaming: Tomas discusses the potential of their work in virtual reality and gaming.
36:16 - Client Acquisition and Marketing: How they attract clients and the role of LinkedIn in their marketing strategy.
39:46 - Traveling for Work: Tomas talks about the realities of traveling for business.
42:35 - The Entrepreneurial Journey: Reflecting on the challenges and stresses of starting and running a business.
46:14 - Impact of AI on Their Work: Discussion on how AI technologies have opened new possibilities for their business.
51:01 - Explaining Photogrammetry: Tomas simplifies the concept of photogrammetry for the audience.
53:11 - Smart Cities Solutions: How their technology contributes to the development of smart cities.
55:34 - Unexpected Industries: Inquiry about any surprising industries they've worked with.
57:34 - Where to Find More: Tomas shares where listeners can learn more about their work and connect with them.
Virtual Museums