When COVID hit, they were prevented from doing what they do best. The idea with this new method was to allow them to continue guiding using new technologies. For the team working on the project, the most important aspect was the personal connection. You can talk directly to the guide, something that is not possible through a pre-recorded video. Seeing the guide in the selfie mode is a very powerful method of transmission because through this connection, you feel like you are right there, and participants feel heard when they ask questions. In addition to the authentic place, participants are also interested in the guide and their work experience here. Who is this guide? Furthermore, the format of the live guided tour allows for quick changes if needed. It can evolve and be modified on the same day, unlike a pre-recorded tour. Even though they discussed the pre-recorded option extensively at the beginning, the personal perspective of a guide was the most powerful
and meaningful. This is not just another movie shown to the public on this topic. The tool was developed around the guides because the best guiding is done by a person, not
by the best technology.
Q: Are you going to restrict the number of participants for an online guided tour?
In order to ensure interactivity and a comfortable experience for everyone, the number
of participants should be limited to around thirty-five. If there are more visitors, it can start to feel more like a lecture, which is not the intention.
Q: What did the tests consist of? Was it mainly about the technical aspects or also
the participants' perceptions?
The tests didn’t focus solely on technical aspects. Perceptions of both guides
and participants were also part of the process. At the end of the tour, participants filled out
a questionnaire, and adjustments were made accordingly. The questionnaire included questions such as: What was more appealing to you? Do you want to see the guide more? Would you like to ask more questions? It also included questions about the content,
the length of the tour, and more. This ongoing educational process will ensure that
the product aligns with the participants' expectations and needs.
Q: Will the archival material be introduced with more context? Is there a database guides
and participants can access?
The pictures are presented and contextualized live, precisely where they were originally taken. Through the interface, the guide can display several pictures in succession to place them back into the historical context of when and where they were captured. During
the discussion mode, the guide can upload pictures related to a specific topic that interests the participants. In the tour itself, the app automatically displays the material used
in the tour.
In general, guides have easy access to a variety of content with just a single click.
The material appears on a timeline throughout the tour on the guide’s interface,
and the guide can make it appear on the visitors' screens with a simple click. The system
is designed to be user-friendly, minimizing the actions required from the guide.