[News] Reflecting on Progress and Embracing the Future: Our Partner Meeting in Thessaloniki

The 5th MuseIT consortium meeting was held from 2 to 5 October, 2024 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Last week, we gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece, at the beautiful Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) for a highly productive partner meeting. This gathering provided us with a valuable opportunity to reflect on our collective achievements and strategize for the exciting work that lies ahead.

Testing Our Innovations

One of the highlights of our meeting was the chance to test the inclusive technologies we've been developing. We collaborated not only within our consortium but also engaged with local professionals, enriching our perspectives and feedback.

We explored a variety of tools during our hands-on sessions, including the Ontochat tool. This innovative framework leverages ontologies to enhance the accuracy and context-awareness of conversational agents through natural language processing. The insights we gained from this testing phase are invaluable as we work to refine our technologies.

In addition to the Ontochat tool, we conducted tests with our Virtual Exhibition and EEG technologies. These technologies are crucial components of our project, allowing us to assess our achievements while collaboratively reflecting on their potential uses and areas for improvement.

Engaging with Local Experts

We were fortunate to engage and exchange ideas with outstanding professionals based in Greece who are dedicated to research, inclusion, culture, tourism, and education. Among the organizations represented were:

• Off Stream

• Thessaloniki Science Center and Technology Museum

• dot2dot

• Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

• International Hellenic University

• MEMENTOES Project (our sister project funded under the same call)

This collaboration not only broadened our horizons but also strengthened our commitment to inclusivity and innovation within the various sectors we represent.

Looking Ahead...

As we enter the final year of our project, we are excited about the future and the progress we have made. We plan to hold major pilot sessions in 2025, ensuring that our target groups—people with disabilities and cultural heritage professionals—have the opportunity to use, test, and interact with the developed tools.

Their feedback will be essential for refining our technologies and ensuring they meet the needs of those we aim to serve.

We will also soon provide more information about the development and accessibility of our technologies, ensuring that our findings and innovations can reach those who will benefit from them.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue this journey together!