Designing multi-channel web frameworks for cultural tourism applications: the MUSE case study

A framework for the design of multi-channel (MC) applications in the cultural tourism domain is presented. Several heterogeneous interface devices are supported including location-sensitive mobile units, on-site stationary devices, and personalized CDs that extend the on-site experience beyond the visit time thanks to personal memories gathered during the visit. The design framework is multi-layer in nature: it takes care of application design both at conceptual and implementation level. At conceptual level it supports content, navigation, interaction and presentation design. At implementation level it includes an interface-independent execution engine as well as a set of tools mapping the design into a formal interface description that specifies the run-time rules-of-behavior to the execution engine. The proposed framework is going to be demonstrated in outstanding museums and archaeological sites in Italy.