Summary
This study discusses different categories of immersive reality (Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality, Augmented Virtuality (AV), and Mixed Reality (MxR)) and their enabling technologies from a Virtual Heritage (VR) perspective. It does so against their potential to establish a contextual relationship between users, reality, and virtuality and their capability to enable collaboration and engagement in virtual environments. In addition, we have attempted a similar comparison on different interaction methods. It identifies MxR and VR as potential categories of immersive reality and, from the interaction point of view, it identifies collaborative and multimodal interaction methods as viable approaches. It finally proposes a specific combination of MxR and a hybrid interaction method comprising collaborative and multimodal features in order to enhance cultural learning at heritage sites and museums.

Innovative VR tools and techniques
- VR enables the reimagination and reconstruction of lost cultures in a highly immersive virtual environment.
- VR is beneficial for Virtual Heritage applications that attempt to reconstruct and simulate cultural heritage elements in a highly immersive virtual environment.
- Interaction Interfaces play a huge role to create a contextual relationship between users and what the virtual environments represent.
- Collaborative interaction interfaces can easily establish a contextual relationship between users and cultural content and can add a social dimension to the experience.

VR in education
- VH applications that balance cultural context, interaction, and immersivity can lead to enhanced cultural learning and enable visitors to have their own interpretation of cultural assets.
- Collaboration between users leads to enhanced engagement in virtual environments.