The Welcoming Event
The second part of the CAPHE secondment in Athens started with an exciting welcome event. First, Narratologies team introduced their platform for creating immersive experiences. Then, Aris Stamopoulos from egg (enter grow go) talked about business opportunities for tech startups. Next, Professor Mónica Mendes shared her ideas on using AR and VR with the real world. She also showed how much potential the link between the metaverse and reality has.
Cultural trips to important Athens landmarks were a key part of the experience. Participants visited the Acropolis Museum and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). Experts shared important facts about the history of these places. They also explained how technology is used in the cultural programs there.
The Third Week
In the third week of the secondment, partners joined city games using Narratologies app. The app showed how interactive features and sensory details can work together. This made the cultural experiences fun and engaging. The games took place at famous sites like the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora. Participants also explored the lively neighborhoods of Metaxourgeio, Psyri, and Gazi. The activities included the “God Keramos Arts & Crafts Tour,” created with DiscoverGreece.com. Participants solved riddles that helped them connect with their surroundings. These riddles also told a bigger story, linking the city’s landmarks in new and exciting ways.
The secondment also included hands-on workshops on immersive technologies. One workshop, led by Professor Jose Manuel Revez from Universidade de Lisboa, taught 3D scanning and creating virtual environments. Professor Mónica Mendes, from the same university, showed participants how to use AR tools that were easy to understand. Professor Kuba Petri from Jagiellonian University, along with Aleksander Cywiński from PUNO, shared their “XR eSCAPE” project. Another session, led by Professor Sidey Myoo (Michał Ostrowicki) from Jagiellonian University, gave a hands-on lesson on immersion. This helped participants understand VR and AR better.
The Final Ceremony
As the secondment ended, the final ceremony took place at the Kostis Palamas Building at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. . The event highlighted the exciting results of the program. It also celebrated the teamwork of the partners. Representatives from universities like Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Universidade de Lisboa, and Kenyatta University shared their experiences. They also talked about new projects inspired by the program. The event looked ahead to the next secondment in Italy, which promised even more exciting developments.
The CAPHE Athens Secondment, furthermore, combined technology, culture, and collaboration. It pushed the limits of immersive experiences. It also, in the process, set the stage for future work in the field.