Preservation of Mediterranean Intangible Cultural Heritage Through Virtual Gaming and Informatics: The Case of Sardinian Mùrra

Abstract

Human-Machine interaction has always presented fascinating challenges for researchers. In the context of humanities, history and social sciences, games have played an important role in human relations. As UNESCO points out, the dazzling variety of forms taken by traditional games is part of the social practices, rituals and festive events we inherit from our ancestors. In the spirit of safeguarding this cultural richness, digitization of games like the traditional Mediterranean Mùrra (or Morra) could contribute to preserving the rich European cultural heritage. Though there are many regional variants of the game, here we will focus on the Sardinian version. This research project proposal could be developed by computer scientists interested in human-machine interaction as well as by humanists and psychologists interested in human reactions to interfacing with an intelligent machine and negotiating wins and losses with a form of AI. This work could be further developed by scholars in the fields of psychology, sociology, history and cultural anthropology.

Keywords

• intangible cultural heritage
• digital humanities
• sardinian mùrra
• gaming