1. Cultural Informatics in Web science: A case of exploiting local cultural content Kenteris Michael M.Eng, M.Sc Vafopoulos Michalis Gavalas Damianos 29/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication 1

2. Outline Web science Web science Cultural Informatics Cultural Informatics Cultural tourism Cultural tourism Case study Case study Usability study Usability study Conclusions Conclusions 28/8/2008Department of Culturul Technology and Communication2

3. WebScience Web Science draws on a diverse range of disciplines, from computer science and engineering, the physical and mathematical sciences, to social sciences and policy- making approaches. Web Science draws on a diverse range of disciplines, from computer science and engineering, the physical and mathematical sciences, to social sciences and policy- making approaches. what technological and other changes need to be made in order for the Web to work better? what technological and other changes need to be made in order for the Web to work better? 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication3

4. Cultural Informatics Cultural Informatics could offer insights in colliding cultural and technical analysis in a single approach. Cultural Informatics could offer insights in colliding cultural and technical analysis in a single approach. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication4

5. Cultural Informatics Definition*: the socio-technological approach to understand, represent, communicate and re-invent cultures and cultural institutions. Definition*: the socio-technological approach to understand, represent, communicate and re-invent cultures and cultural institutions. –Understanding –Representation –Communication –Re-invention *derived by Michalis Vafopoulos 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication5

6. Cultural tourism Cultural tourism is defined* as a flow of people mainly pursuing cultural goals, such as festivals, music, theatre, events, visits to old countryside farms, visits to historical and religious monuments, archaeological sites, exhibitions, museums, classes, conferences, etc. Cultural tourism is defined* as a flow of people mainly pursuing cultural goals, such as festivals, music, theatre, events, visits to old countryside farms, visits to historical and religious monuments, archaeological sites, exhibitions, museums, classes, conferences, etc.*WTO 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication6

7. Cultural tourism II an independent segment of the tourist industry, an independent segment of the tourist industry, a complement to mainstream tourism a complement to mainstream tourism Heritage and culture recognized as fundamental elements of tourism and also as a major opportunity area. Heritage and culture recognized as fundamental elements of tourism and also as a major opportunity area. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication7

8. Research Questions Can the Web be used to exploit the “mobility” of tourist users? Can the Web be used to exploit the “mobility” of tourist users? –How to use the Web to offer cultural content. –How to use this content to exploit contextual tourism activities. –How to use the Web to exploit the “mobility” of its users? 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication8

9. Our case study The e-guide system 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication 9

10. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication10 Technological environment Technological environment Convergence of two separate technologies, the Web and mobile computing. – –Wireless computing presents many key characteristics: a) a)ubiquity and convenience b) b)positioning c) c)personalization

11. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication11 Our case study Multi-platform tourist application Multi-platform tourist application uses the Web to promote cultural information to tourists. uses the Web to promote cultural information to tourists. Allowing for tourists to tag content of their personal interest Allowing for tourists to tag content of their personal interest prompted to build a personalized mobile application for their mobile phone, running off and on the Web. prompted to build a personalized mobile application for their mobile phone, running off and on the Web.

12. Case study: e-guide This case study contains three subsystems: This case study contains three subsystems: –Dynamic Web based tourist guide system –mobile tourist application incorporating user selected content from Web sub system –PDA installation offered to tourists to roam around the city or to use via predefined tours. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication12

13. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication13 Development stage The prototype system comprises of two stages: The prototype system comprises of two stages: STAGE 2 STAGE 1

14. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication14 Web Application Architecture

15. Eguide Web application 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication15

16. Web profiling subsystem The Web application uses a Web profiling subsystem The Web application uses a Web profiling subsystem –uses explicit profile, implicit profile –groups users according to their overall profile –offers extra personalized content 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication16

17. Post visit commenting Web application generates user profile pages Web application generates user profile pages –showing all selected content in the users’ profile –allows users to input personal comments of visited sights, to upload photos of their visit –allows for external visitors to comment on users’ profile page. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication17

18. Background work Existing commercial applications, research approaches fall within two main categories : Existing commercial applications, research approaches fall within two main categories : –Tourist guides with pre-installed applications, namely rigidly defined content that cannot be customized –Mobile devices used to access mobile Web portals and browse tourist information of interest 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication18

19. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication19 Mobile Device Application : Installation to a mobile device

20. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication20 Mobile design implications Some characteristics of mobile computing needed to be carefully evaluated: – –the physical restrictions of handheld devices – –limited bandwidth and high cost of wireless connections. – –low processing capabilities and available memory.

21. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication21 The mobile novelty.. Available Web platforms Available Web platforms –disadvantage of i-mode/WAP-based services requirement for constant connection requirement for constant connection Users are charged for the wireless connections Users are charged for the wireless connections Whenever a user is out of coverage of the mobile network (i.e. ‘has no signal’) s/he cannot access any service. Whenever a user is out of coverage of the mobile network (i.e. ‘has no signal’) s/he cannot access any service.

22. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication22 Mobile Device Application

23. PDA Installation PDA application implemented using the NaviPocket v. 2.4 by OPHRYS SYSTEMS PDA application implemented using the NaviPocket v. 2.4 by OPHRYS SYSTEMS –(founded in 1992 is a company specializing in audio-guides and information systems for museums and cultural sites) Application designed for mobility by providing an interface with simple menus Application designed for mobility by providing an interface with simple menus 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication23

24. PDA Installation 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication24

25. Usability study: Findings I even though tourists were keen to use the application via a static Web device they were reluctant to use the mobile system via the Web interface even though tourists were keen to use the application via a static Web device they were reluctant to use the mobile system via the Web interface users who wanted extra content or wanted to receive more content which the system would generate by using a personal profiling system users who wanted extra content or wanted to receive more content which the system would generate by using a personal profiling system 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication25

26. Usability study: Findings II by allowing the uploading of photos and the writing of comments on the user’s personal profile page by allowing the uploading of photos and the writing of comments on the user’s personal profile page –complimented the use of the Web by allowing tourists to connect with others and to keep their visit to show to family and friends 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication26

27. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication27 Conclusions the Web influences human societies and cultures, and human societies and cultures influence the Web. the Web influences human societies and cultures, and human societies and cultures influence the Web. CI could contribute in Web science intriguing possibilities for the new digital narratives raising new issues on cultural heritage representation, awareness, space, time, interpretation, interaction, identity and the real. CI could contribute in Web science intriguing possibilities for the new digital narratives raising new issues on cultural heritage representation, awareness, space, time, interpretation, interaction, identity and the real.

28. 28/8/2008Department of Cultural Technology and Communication 28 Thank you for your attention Questions?