Virtual museums and the Òliba group: theoretical presuppositions, state of affairs, design, implementation and divulgence

Abstract

The research group Òliba was created in 1999 within the UOC's Humanities and Philology Studies with the aim of analysing how Information and Communications Technologies could enhance the educational and communicative functions of cultural institutions such as Museums and Interpretive Centres and their recording and divulging the heritage to be found within them. Over the course of the last three years, a series of theoretical models have been defined and six practical applications, online exhibitions and portals for cultural centres, have been trialled in order to observe how the introduction of Information and Communications Technologies has modified the habits both of staff at the centres and of the visitors themselves. This research report describes the state of the art of the subject at an international level, how the theoretical models to be experimented with were defined, and how the various practical applications evolved. That, and evaluation of the projects, has been the work done by the Òliba group during these three years.