Human bodies are known to retain memories that are not easily transcribed into text, still images, moving images, or other tangible records. Digital video is useful for documenting these embodied memories, but it is still unable to completely capture all the nuances of lived experiences. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of motion capture and virtual reality (VR) technologies for recording and sharing memories of all kinds. Oral history projects such as the Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley workshop at the Derby QUAD (https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/OpenCall10Nov) and the Dimensions in Testimony project at the USC Shoah Foundation (https://sfi.usc.edu/dit) demonstrate these technologies are being used to document, archive, and disseminate the embodied memories of marginalized populations. Dance researchers and somatic practitioners have also contributed greatly to the preservation of cultural heritage through initiatives such as WHOLODANCE (http://www.wholodance.eu/). Despite the increased accessibility and affordability of immersive technologies, the visualization and viewing of motion capture data still requires a certain level of interactivity for the content to be presented and viewed properly. Standalone VR experiences are not always the most convenient way for users to view this content either. Furthermore, there are additional concerns surrounding the data itself such as ethics, cost of data clean-up, and long-term preservation. At the time of writing, it is still common for archives worldwide to still have analogue and digital backlogs as well as manpower and funding shortages. These limitations can make it difficult for motion capture-based records to be processed outside of specially funded projects.
In response to this situation, the author proposes the use of metaverse platforms and machine learning technologies to help make embodied memories available to a wider audience while making the process more affordable for archives and preservation professionals. The paper will include an overview of the metaverse ecosystem, motion capture systems, VR and machine learning before using principles from oral history and dance research to outline how a basic embodied memory archives could be constructed in the metaverse using consumer technology. Specific points include examining the implications of the metaverse beyond cryptocurrency and questioning how the metaverse itself can be preserved.