User Experience In Digital Reality Technologies Applications In Cultural Heritage: Current State and Research Trends

Digital reality technologies are leading technological changes in cultural heritage, eliminating geographical and economic barriers to accessing cultural and artistic assets. The user experience of developed applications directly affects society's adoption of these technologies. A systematic review of research on user behaviors and experiences regarding digital reality applications in cultural heritage is essential for the field's development. This review enables the analysis of prominent topics, scientific productivity, impact and collaborations. This study reviews research focusing on user experience in digital reality technologies applications in cultural heritage between 1999-2024 using bibliometric methods. The results show a significant increase in studies between 2013-2017, followed by a relative slowdown during 2018-2021, with renewed momentum from 2022. The analysis reveals that the number of cultural assets in countries' UNESCO World Heritage List does not determine academic productivity in this field. The field demonstrates a multidisciplinary structure, with contributions from engineering, computer science, humanities, tourism, culture and art, indicating that the user experience dimension of digital reality technologies in cultural heritage continues to develop as a dynamic research area with a multidisciplinary approach.