Digital Communication Strategies for Atlas Silk Heritage: An NFC-Enabled Cultural Product Case Study

Abstract

Atlas silk is a traditional silk-based intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Its digital communication faces challenges such as limited public awareness, fragmented cultural information, and the separation of cultural products from their cultural narratives. This study explores how external near-field communication (NFC) smart hangtags can connect physical cultural products with digital heritage content. A preliminary survey (n = 237) informed the development of three NFC-enabled product prototypes. An initial user evaluation (n = 32; 28 valid paired questionnaires) showed higher post-experience ratings of participants’ self-reported understanding of production techniques, patterns, and cultural origins, as well as their willingness to purchase or recommend the products. Technical testing showed that the external NFC tags could be read under the tested conditions, although nearby metal components may reduce reading stability. This study considers the external NFC entry point as a “situated interpretive layer” connecting physical product encounters with digital cultural narratives and proposes four design principles: optimizing access points, organizing digital content in layers, improving technical compatibility, and establishing mechanisms for long-term content maintenance and cultural review. The findings should be interpreted as exploratory and require further examination with larger samples and long-term field studies.