Objective
The European Museums Network is an application pilot in which the objectives are to develop and demonstrate an advanced application of telecommunications in the cultural field.
The project has the general theme of Discovery; Traces of Europe's Cultural Integration. Its main contents are virtual or imaginary collections of artefacts, to be presented to the public as real objects and, simultaneously at different locations, electronically on multimedia workstations which will be interconnected via telecoms networks.
The main objective in the context of RACE is the development of telecommunications applications in fields other than those traditionally associated with a business environment; in this case the cultural field.
The European museums network is an application pilot in which the objectives are to develop and demonstrate an advanced application of telecommunications in the cultural field. The project has the general theme of Discovery, Traces of Europe's Cultural Integration. Its main contents are virtual or imaginary collections of artefacts, to be presented to the public as real objects and, simultaneously at different locations, electronically on multimedia workstations which will be interconnected via telecoms network.
The application pilot demonstrates interactive navigation through a pool of multimedia museum objects, according to users' wishes and associations. This is complemented by a multimedia acquisition tool which allows for editing, inputting and composition of multimedia documents and objects. The pilot was realised using sophisticated workstations with high quality output facilities for still images, video images, sound music and text. Software was developed both for nondeterministic navigation through the museum artefacts for direct access to distributed multimedia databases, for the data bank administration and for a very easy to use user interface. The database system is on a Unix server and integrated services digital network (ISDN) or broadband telecommunications networks (and appropriate services) are used to interconnect the geographically separated systems.
First a multimedia workstation was designed and offered to the museums for testing. Having the test systems in place, the museums experts were able to have first direct experiences in handling the machine and using the application. Valuable results came back from this first fieldtest leading to substantial revisions of functions and technical features. Next a second release of the test system was programmed including new functionalities and new user requirements and 100 more multimedia descriptions of museum objects which have been worked out by the museums including additional detailed informa tion bits (DIB). A system model description (SMD) has been elaborated defining user requirements and helping the virtual understanding between the technical and the museum group. Then the design for the final system was finished and the systems were installed in the museums. 800 objects are being input.
Technical Approach
The application pilot will demonstrate interactive navigation through a pool of multimedia museum objects, according to users' wishes and associations. This is complemented by a multimedia acquisition tool which allows for editing, inputting and composition of multimedia documents/objects.
The pilot will be realised using sophisticated workstations with high quality output facilities for still images, video images, sound, music and text. Software will be developed both for non-deterministic navigation through the museum artefacts for direct access to distributed multimedia databases, for the data bank administration and for a very easy to use user interface. The database system will be on a Unix server and ISDN or broadband telecommunications networks (and appropriate services) shall be used to interconnect the geographically separated systems.
The first three years of the project were spent in developing the system and the application and to prepare the pilot experiments, which are to be run simultaneously at the locations of the eight participating museums during 1992.
Key Issues
. Identification of user requirements (museums visitors and museum professionals).
. Design of multimedia applications and systems according to specifications and requirements worked out in collaboration with the museums.
. Man-machine interface for lay users.
. Full digital media integration.
Achievements
In 1989 a multimedia workstation was designed and offered to the museums for testing. Having the test- systems in place, the museums experts were able to have first direct experiences in handling the machine and using the application. Valuable results came back from this first field-test leading to substantial revisions of functions and technical features.
In 1990 a second release of the test-system has been programmed including new functionalities and new user- requirements and 100 more multimedia descriptions of museum objects which have been worked out by the museums including additional so-called detailed information bits (DIBs). A system model description (SMD) has been elaborated defining user requirements and helping the virtual understanding between the technical and the museum group.
In 1991 the design for the final system was finished and the systems were installed in the museums. 800 objects are being input now.
Expected Impact
This project should show that new telecommunications technologies can contribute to cultural integration among European countries. A novel kind of service to the museum world will be developed and offered, including alternative solutions for advanced multimedia communications as technical support. The whole system will most probably serve as an example for other application fields.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences databases
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering information engineering telecommunications telecommunications networks
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software software applications simulation software
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Data not available
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Data not available
Coordinator
76139 Karlsruhe
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.