Within the framework of the InnoGuide4CHT ATHU-0100028 project, a professional testing workshop was organised for experts from cultural heritage tourism institutions as part of the project deliverable D3.2.1 Pilot Implementation. The aim of the workshop was to provide a practical test and professional evaluation of the HISTORYSTEPS digital exhibition guide application developed within the project.
The professional testing took place on 22 June 2026 at the Göcseji Open-Air Museum. The purpose of the event was to carry out the first professional testing of the HISTORYSTEPS digital exhibition guide application, developed through the collaboration of the project partners. Participants contributed to the further development of the application and the refinement of its user-friendly operation through their feedback.
The workshop was attended primarily by representatives of cultural heritage tourism and public cultural institutions from Western Transdanubia. Participants included professionals from museums, national parks, tourism organisations, tourist information offices, cultural associations and public cultural institutions, ensuring a comprehensive professional evaluation of the digital application.
The workshop was opened by András Varju, Head of the Institutional Unit, who welcomed the participants. In his introductory presentation, he outlined the challenges that made the development of an innovative digital exhibition guide application necessary for cultural heritage tourism institutions. He also presented the objectives of the InnoGuide4CHT project and the joint development process carried out by the project partners within the framework of the Interreg Austria–Hungary Programme.
He also highlighted that cultural heritage tourism institutions are facing increasing challenges due to changing visitor expectations, digitalisation, accessibility requirements and the need to engage new target groups. The development of the HISTORYSTEPS application aims to provide a modern and sustainable response to these challenges.
Kata Szikszai then presented the professional contribution of the Zalaegerszeg Museum Directorate and the content development process of the HISTORYSTEPS application. Her presentation introduced the museum education and content development concept behind the application, which aims to complement traditional guided tours with an experience-based digital storytelling approach.
Participants were introduced to the three thematic visitor routes developed for the application, each designed for different target groups: families with young children, visitors with a scientific interest, and deaf and hard-of-hearing users. The presentation also explained that particular emphasis had been placed on historical and ethnographic authenticity, engaging museum interpretation, and the development of accessible and inclusive content.
During the content development process, a coherent family story was created based on authentic historical and ethnographic sources. The three main characters present everyday life in the Göcsej region from different perspectives; while each story can be understood independently, together they form a complex narrative spanning several generations.
The process of developing the stories and the related multimedia content was also presented, together with the objective of ensuring that digital technology enriches rather than replaces the museum visitor experience. The presenter emphasised that feedback from the target groups had been continuously taken into account throughout the development process, and that the current professional testing forms an integral part of this ongoing development.
Following the presentations, participants downloaded the HISTORYSTEPS application to their own mobile devices and began testing it in practice by choosing one of the thematic routes based on the stories of Erzsébet, Sándor or Pál.
During the testing session, participants independently explored the designated locations of the Göcseji Open-Air Museum while discovering the stories through the application’s digital content, multimedia elements and interactive features. The purpose of the practical test was to allow professionals to gain first-hand experience in a real visitor environment regarding the application’s usability, the clarity of its content and the applicability of its digital solutions in a museum setting.
After the first phase of testing, participants shared their initial impressions and observations through interviews and informal professional discussions. Based on the feedback collected, a second round of testing was conducted, providing an opportunity to try additional functions of the application and to clarify previously raised questions and suggestions.
During the testing, technical support and assistance in resolving any technical issues were provided by Gergő Rajcsányi on behalf of the University of Pannonia, the project’s development partner. Thanks to his contribution, participants received continuous professional and technical support in answering questions related to the use of the application and resolving any technical difficulties that arose.
As an accompanying programme to the application testing, staff members of the project’s Austrian partner, Forschung Burgenland, carried out an eye-tracking study involving the participants. The aim of the study was to evaluate the visual appearance, navigation elements and user interface of the HISTORYSTEPS application, as well as to conduct a usability analysis of the website of the Zalaegerszeg Museum Directorate.
During the eye-tracking study, participants completed predefined tasks while researchers recorded and analysed their points of visual attention, user pathways and the visibility of individual interface elements. The results will contribute to the further user-centred development of the digital solutions created within the project and to enhancing the overall visitor experience.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants shared their experiences, suggestions and development proposals regarding the HISTORYSTEPS application during a joint evaluation session. Overall, the feedback was highly positive. The professionals particularly appreciated the storytelling-based approach, the development of target group-specific content, and the consideration given to accessibility throughout the application.
The experiences and evaluations collected provide an important foundation for the further development and refinement of the application. In the next phase of the project, the results of the professional testing will be processed before user testing involving the target groups begins. The findings of this phase will contribute to the finalisation of the HISTORYSTEPS application and its wider implementation.
The workshop successfully achieved its objectives and provided valuable professional feedback that will support the finalisation and broader applicability of the innovative digital visitor experience solution developed within the framework of the InnoGuide4CHT project.
