Project Overview

Zion Cemetery, established in 1901, was Tampa, Florida’s first African American cemetery. Over time, it was neglected and eventually built over, erasing its physical presence. In 2019, the cemetery was rediscovered beneath the Robles Park Village housing complex. To honor and educate about this significant historical site, Special Angels Investments partnered with Groove Jones to create an immersive digital experience that brings Zion Cemetery's history to life.‍

UX Objectives

• Educate: Inform users about the history and significance of Zion Cemetery and the broader context of African American cemeteries.
• Engage: Provide an interactive and emotionally resonant experience that connects users to the stories of those buried at Zion Cemetery.
• Empower: Encourage users to take action in preserving and honoring forgotten African American burial sites.

Experience Design

1. WebGL Interactive Journey

The experience begins in a virtual space reminiscent of an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, symbolizing the spiritual foundation of the community. Users can navigate through:

• Historical Maps: Explore the transformation of the Zion Cemetery area over time, illustrating how it was gradually erased from public records.
• Timeline: Scroll through significant events, supported by unarchived photos and articles, detailing the cemetery's history.
• Narrative Sections: Engage with stories from three eras—Founding, Segregation, and Present Day—each providing context and personal accounts.‍

Interactive hotspots reveal detailed information about ceremonies and traditions, enhancing user understanding and empathy.

2. Virtual Reality Experience

A VR component offers a fully immersive journey, guided by a spoken word poem from Ebony Payne-English, a poet and educator. Users can:

• Visually explore Zion Cemetery as it existed in different time periods.
• Interact with digitized artifacts and documents using hand-tracking technology, eliminating the need for controllers.
• Experience the emotional narratives of individuals connected to the cemetery.

This VR experience is available through the Meta VR App Lab‍

3. Mobile Augmented Reality

For mobile users, an AR version allows exploration of the cemetery's history in their physical environment. This approach makes the experience accessible and engaging, especially for educational purposes

Technology Stack

• Three.js: For creating the WebGL-based interactive 3D environment.
• WebGL: Enables real-time rendering of 3D graphics in web browsers.
• VR Development: Custom-built VR application with hand-tracking capabilities.
• AR Integration: Mobile web-based AR experience, accessible without additional applications.

UX Impact

• Emotional Engagement: The use of personal narratives and poetry fosters a deep emotional connection, encouraging users to reflect on the historical injustices faced by African American communities.
• Educational Value: By combining historical data with interactive elements, users gain a comprehensive understanding of Zion Cemetery's significance.
• Call to Action: The experience concludes with a prompt for users to contact their representatives, advocating for the preservation of African American cemeteries.

Recognition

The project received multiple awards,

• Vega Digital Awards: Gold in Websites & Mobile Sites – Cause Related.
• Hermes Creative Awards: Platinum in Electronic Media / Social Media / Interactive Media.

Conclusion

The "Journey to Revive Zion Cemetery Through Immersive Technology" project exemplifies how immersive digital experiences can educate, engage, and empower users. By blending technology with storytelling, Groove Jones and Special Angels Investments have created a platform that not only honors the past but also inspires action for the future.

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