On 23 June 2026, NEXUS Innovation carried out the first official pilot testing of two new digital applications currently under development: a digital walking guide to Florina and a more playful, mission-based application called SELFIE Florina.
Both applications aim to help residents, visitors, educators and students explore the city of Florina in an engaging and meaningful way, connecting local history, cultural heritage and digital technology.
The first application, the Digital Florina Guide, allows users to walk through the city and discover the stories behind important buildings, monuments and landmarks. Through short texts, visual material and location-based navigation, the application invites users to experience Florina as an open-air historical and cultural route.
The second application, SELFIE Florina, transforms the city walk into a playful exploration game. Users are invited to locate selected landmarks and complete small selfie missions at each point. These missions may include simple and humorous challenges, such as closing one eye, posing like a detective or expressing surprise in front of a historical building. In this way, the application encourages movement, observation, interaction and personal engagement with the city.
The historical and educational material used in both applications is based on the research work of the Postgraduate Programme “History, Local History, Research and Didactics” of the Department of Primary Education in Florina, University of Western Macedonia.
The pilot testing event brought together representatives of the university, educators, academics, citizens of Florina, and two teachers from Finland who are currently visiting the city within the framework of an Erasmus+ mobility programme. Participants installed the trial versions of the applications and joined an afternoon walking route through the city, testing the digital tools in real conditions.
During the walk, participants explored how digital technologies can support local history, urban storytelling and cultural participation. The testing process also offered NEXUS Innovation valuable first impressions regarding usability, accessibility, content clarity, navigation and the overall experience of using the applications while walking through Florina.
Following the pilot activity, participants will be invited to complete feedback questionnaires, sharing what they found useful, enjoyable or challenging, as well as what they believe should be improved. Their comments will guide the next phase of development.
A second pilot testing activity is planned for the summer, while the official release of both applications is scheduled for September 2026. The applications will be made available free of charge to all users.
Through this initiative, NEXUS Innovation seeks to contribute to the creative promotion of Florina’s local history and cultural identity, while also exploring how digital tools, geolocation, storytelling and playful learning can bring citizens, visitors and educational communities closer to the city’s heritage.
