A Contribute to the Conceptual Scheme of Reference for the European Virtual Museum

(Project)

Starting from the suggestions made by Mr. Marco Merlini, we have designed a project on the information structure of the European Virtual Museum. Our proposal – an information structure based on .NET technology – intends to cover all the matters concerning a European Virtual Museum, not only those regarding prehistory. This would be the first characteristic.

Secondly, this structure is intended to be more than a static website with limited possibilities of comprising and/or updating information. Therefore, we would like to suggest a dynamic and interactive model, based on .NET technology, which is Microsoft’s new Internet and Web strategy. The .NET platform provides the software necessary to develop Web services, software that we can get from Microsoft.

We would like to mention that we have taken the necessary steps in order to apply this system, using applications such as Archaeological System (ArhSys), General Archaeological System (GenArhSys), Procite 5. These applications may comprise the database structures necessary to create the website of the European Virtual Museum.

As you could see from the plan here enclosed, the proposed technology allows the above-mentioned applications, as well as clients’ applications (which can be accessed through links), to be included in the website. The RDBMS (Relational DataBase Management System) allows the recording of all general and special knowledge of the objects selected by us or suggested by clients (museums, research institute, etc.). Moreover, these databases, together with multimedia files, can provide additional information about: other archaeological objects; archaeological research and sites in the area; museums or special/ general museum collections; historical monuments and/ or important cultural attractions; useful information about transport and accommodation in order to visit the cultural-tourist attractions; virtual shop (replicas/ copies) – all these in case the interested persons would like to come into direct contact with the objects or matters concerning them.

In essence, this information structure provides the possibility to apply this plan not only for the prehistoric period, but also for other periods and socio-cultural structures from different regions of Europe. In this way, starting from the object and its connections, we could present a multimillenary cultural and historical evolution, having reverberations and continuity elements up to present day. This is the conceptual scheme of reference that we would like to suggest for the European Virtual Museum.

Iuliu PAUL, Ph.D. Professor

Director of the Multi-User Research Centre