The National World War II Museum in New Orleans unveils a new interactive feature where visitors can have a virtual conversation with veterans and others who served during the war effort. VP of Education Peter Crean said it’s a unique experience.
“Using voice recognition software and artificial intelligence you can speak into a microphone and the voice recognition software understands the element of the question that you’re asking,” said Crean.
Crean said a lot of work went into capturing the voices of the aging veterans and their responses. Over two days they were asked more than a thousand questions.
Among the voices you can interact with are a military nurse, an aircraft factory worker, and Margaret Kerry a former USO performer who was later the model for Disney’s version of Tinker Bell.
The museum has roughly a quarter of a million artifacts, but Crean said the jewel of their collection is their close to 12,000 oral histories.
“Our approach has always been focusing on the men and women who fought in or participated in the war and telling their stories and this does exactly that,” said Crean.
Marine veteran and Medal of Honor Winner Hershel Woodrow “Wood” Wilson is among the voices, who sadly passed away in June of 2022 after recording his responses. Crean said they are trying to preserve the history of WWII with the voices of those who lived it.
“That generation is fading into history, and this will allow people for the next 100 years to come in and have a conversation with a WWII veteran,” said Crean.
The museum is open daily from 9 am until 5 pm.
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