Building bridges rather than walls – Information Centre – Research & Innovation

Scientists in the EU-funded CROSSCULT challenge developed software package applications that enable people to much better take pleasure in Europe’s shared record at renowned exhibitions and archaeological sites across the European Union.

According to challenge communications coordinator Luc Vandenabeele of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technologies, CROSSCULT experienced two most important goals. The first was to digitally improve visitor encounters in the course of tours of EU historic exhibitions, such as the Montegrotto Terme archaeological internet site in close proximity to Padua, Italy. The next was to generate gatherings that would advertise the two a much better comprehension of European record and improve how people experience the gatherings. “We aimed to boost historic consciousness by connecting various venues and viewpoints, and by exhibiting the connections between historic phenomena in various eras,” he states.

Sharing by connecting

CROSSCULT’s first motion was to establish an online system for setting up Android applications distinct to exhibitions and their pilot tasks. The application for the Countrywide Gallery in London, for instance, provides museum maps, makes it possible for people to “like” certain museum is effective, and indicates other is effective that the user could like centered upon prior input. These mobile applications, available through Google Play, enable attendees to tailor their digital encounters to their personal preferences.

An additional CrossCult-formulated Android application, “Cultural Connections”, attracts parallels between historical and modern periods. For instance, the application informs users that areas of Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece were united for above four hundred yrs in the course of the Roman Empire, and points out that less than the European Union, they have only been united considering that 1986. The application then asks the user to react by sharing his or her ideas.

When constructing the pilot tasks related with the applications, scientists started with the main basic principle that record has no complete truths, but fairly various interpretations and contrasting viewpoints that inspire particular reflection.
The first pilot challenge was an artwork exhibition at London’s Countrywide Gallery held on 25-29 June 2018. The pilot’s application allows people navigate the Gallery’s is effective and poses thoughts intended to inspire the contemplation of their cultural and historic significance.

The next challenge formulated an additional application that explored the therapeutic use of h2o in antiquity. The application allowed users to digitally check out historical spas in close proximity to Lugo, in Spain Chaves, in Portugal Montegrotto, in Italy and the Epidaurus archaeological internet site in Greece.

A more compact location was the focus of the third pilot: the Tripolis Archaeological Museum in Greece. “Visitors went further than the normal amount of historic presentation, such as the kind of a statue or its design day,” Vandenabeele states. “Instead, they went into further ranges of reflection, such as above the social factors of life in antiquity.”

The fourth and final pilot allowed users to look into the cultural heritage of the towns of Valetta in Malta and Luxembourg City and Belval in Luxembourg. The application for this pilot, entitled “CrossCult: Cities”, applied online maps to lead people on walking tours and pointed out sites of cultural and historic significance.

Far better historic appreciation

The final final results from CROSSCULT, which finished in late February 2019, include things like economic benefits for taking part municipalities. Scientists formulated software package and applications that educators, tourist operators, and local governments can use to improve their providers. In addition, the software package system remains available as a toolkit that cultural heritage specialists can use to establish their personal customised applications.

“CROSSCULT was an astounding journey,” Vandenabeele states. “It enabled the humanities and technology to be a part of forces to aid reflections on record and an comprehension of our frequent European earlier.”