Abstract
The LAMB (Learning, Access and MoBility) Project has been designed with the aim to develop a mobile digital guiding and learning platform. Work started in 2001 (Vatanen and Uotila 2003). The first prototypes were tested in 2002–2003 and the development has continued until 2012. The aim of the project has been to provide the potential users with an opportunity to visit cultural (e.g. medieval castles and fortifications) and natural heritage sites using a portable electronic device as a travel guide. The development of the LAMB (fi. PULU) system took place in cooperation with experts from Muuritutkimus Company, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Uppsala University, University of Turku and Municipality of Eura. The project was supported financially by the Finnish National Board of Education. The current versions of the client system were built using Java Standard Edition. This platform was chosen because it is well established and available on most platforms, including smart phones. Due to portability requirements, the platform uses a minimal device specific interface for accessing GPS data. At the moment, the system is running on mini tablet PC and mini-laptop devices. These provide usable screen size, workable interaction and performance for an affordable price. The LAMB platform has proven to be a versatile framework for designing and realizing sightsee- ing and learning sessions with a specific focus on tourists’, students’ and researchers’ experience and engagement with their environment and its various human dimensions. The variety of functionalities in the client provides the means to develop rich interaction with cultural heritage sites both for individual visitors and groups.
