Technology that has the potential to bring Colchester’s Roman past to life will be the subject of the second in a series of Colchester Café Scientifique events next week.

University of Essex scientist Dr Adrian Clark will talk about advances in wearable computer technology which could allow people to experience the reality of life in the past whilst walking around an archaeological site.

Dr Clark’s talk, ‘Augmented reality reconstructions of archaeological sites’, is the second in the Café Scientifique series which is sponsored by the University. It comes hot on the heels of a well-attended seminar about our use of telephones that launched the series.

Dr Clark’s talk takes place at The Minories Bistro on Wednesday 9 November from 6.30pm. Admission is free.

Dr Clark explained: “Have you ever been to an archaeological site and wondered what it would have been like to walk around it in antiquity? Computer systems that are worn and use a head-mounted display to show a 3D reconstruction of the site around you make this a very real possibility which could have significant implications for the teaching and understanding of history.”

Café Scientifique is a national movement encouraging informal and accessible debate about important scientific issues. The first Cafes were held in Leeds in 1998. Since then they have spread across the country with some 40 cafes now meeting regularly to hear scientists talk about their work and discuss it with diverse audiences.

For further information about attending Dr Clark’s talk, contact Ray White, telephone: 01621 891598 or e-mail: ray@raygwhite.co.uk.

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Notes to editors

For further information about Dr Clark’s talk, please contact him via the University of Essex Communications Office, telephone: 01206 873529 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk.

For further information about Dr Clark and his research interests see: http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~alien/.