The HINT Project--Exploring the Use of New Technologies in Heritage Interpretation

The HINT project is a four-country collective of Global Geoparks researching the uses and benefits of new technologies in heritage interpretation. HINT is a two-year project part funded by the European Leader Programme. The partners are Geopark Shetland (Scotland), Chablais Geopark (France), North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (England) and Geopark de Hondsrug (The Netherlands). Each partner has developed a pilot project to investigate the practicalities of interpreting and communicating heritage, especially geological heritage, using a particular technology. An overview of each of the four pilot projects is given. The overall aim of the pilot projects is to develop best practice in using new technologies for heritage interpretation and to share information and ideas within the project partnership and with geoparks and heritage organizations around the world. This paper, developed by the HINT partners, aims to give an insight into the practical process of developing interpretive tools using new technologies. Some common problems are highlighted and some ways in which these can be addressed are shown.