Protótipo de aplicativo mobile para o projeto “A mesma luz, outros olhares: realidade aumentada e vitrais de outras tradições religiosas em Curitiba”

Abstract

Stained glass windows have been a significant form of art throughout human history, traditionally receiving greater prominence in the Catholic context. Over the years, this art form has also become popular in other religious traditions, although without widespread publicization. The aim of this project is to develop the prototype of a mobile application to bring greater visibility to the art of stained glass, thereby increasing public interest in places that are not widely known for having this type of art. This project was developed in partnership with the scientific initiation project “The same light, different glances: Augmented Reality and stained glass windows from other religious traditions in Curitiba”, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Ed Marcos Sarro, from the Academic Department of Industrial Design at the Federal University of Technology – Paraná. The application proposes using augmented reality (AR) to make the user experience more engaging and immersive. Augmented reality allows virtual information to be overlaid onto the real-world environment, enhancing the perception and understanding of stained glass windows. Users can point their mobile device cameras at the stained glass and view detailed information about the history, symbolism, and artistic aspects of these works. This feature not only enriches the visitor experience but also facilitates access to knowledge, encouraging cultural and religious tourism and the appreciation of this art form. Consequently, the application is expected to significantly contribute to the valorization and preservation of stained glass windows, promoting greater recognition and appreciation of this historical and cultural art form. For the development of the project, the ARKit and ARCore libraries were used, containing implementations of algorithms for pattern matching and perspective mapping, in conjunction with the Flutter framework for Android and iOS platforms, in order to produce a hybrid application that can run on both platforms. Additionally, Cloud Firestore and Cloudinary databases were used to store the application’s data and images, respectively. Field tests demonstrated that the developed application can function under the real-world conditions envisioned for the project.