12 seconds ago 2009-12-04T18:50:02-08:00
ATHENS, Greece – If you've ever wandered around a dusty Greek archaeological site in midsummer, clueless about what you're seeing or where you're going, help is finally at hand.
Greece's Culture Ministry unveiled a hand-held gadget for visitors that offers high-resolution video, detailed diagrams of sites such as ancient temples, position indicators, and imagery along with stereo sound. The battery-powered, touch screen devices are about the size and weight of a Walkman — weighing just 9.5 ounces.
Instructions come in four languages, Greek, English, German and French. The units will be available at 15 sites around the country including the Acropolis and National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Thessaloniki's archaeological and Byzantine museums, Delphi, Rhodes, Olympia, Mycenae, Vergina, Epidaurus, and Knossos in Crete.
The system, developed by Siemens and Fujitsu, will first be tested in Thessaloniki and Mycenae and should be available at all sites by summer 2008. Rental prices are yet to be determined, Voulgarakis said.
