Digitizing intangible cultural heritage: A vector-to-interaction protocol for Yangzhou embroidery revitalization

To sustain the vitality of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and innovate interactive experiences for Yangzhou embroidery, this study proposes a vectorized representation method for embroidery stitches and develops an audio-visual cross-modal (AVCM) interactive application. Firstly, the constitutive mechanism of Yangzhou embroidery was analyzed using stitches as fundamental units, establishing a vectorized representation that provides a structured, computable foundation for digital transformation. Secondly, a mapping between the visual features of stitches and corresponding auditory information was constructed through Kansei Engineering-based subjective evaluation. This mapping underpins the design of the novel AVCM interactive application. Finally, the designed and developed AVCM interactive application for Yangzhou embroidery underwent comprehensive evaluation of user interaction experience, including a controlled cognitive effects evaluation experiment. The results demonstrate significant enhancements in user engagement and cognitive understanding of embroidery techniques. This work establishes a replicable, scalable paradigm encompassing core digitization, cross-modal interaction, and empirical evaluation for technological analysis, safeguarding, and innovative dissemination of ICH.