Putting collaboration into practice: the Time Machine Connect Programme brings together the cultural heritage and digital innovation communities to explore, test and shape the future of the Time Machine Connect Workspace.
How can we create digital environments that better support collaboration, knowledge exchange and connections across Europe’s cultural heritage community? And how can the people who will use these environments actively contribute to their development?
These questions are at the heart of the Time Machine Connect Programme, an initiative by the Time Machine Organisation (TMO) designed to foster engagement and collaboration across the cultural heritage, research and technology communities.
A central element of the programme is the Time Machine Connect Workspace: a digital environment that is being developed with the aim of supporting connections and interaction within the wider Time Machine community. Rather than developing the Workspace in isolation, TMO is placing particular emphasis on involving potential users, gathering practical feedback and learning from their experiences.
Putting the Workspace to the test
Recent Time Machine Connect activities offered participants the opportunity to get hands-on experience with the Workspace, explore its functionalities and share their perspectives on its usability and potential.
The response was very encouraging. We were delighted to welcome so many participants and see them actively engaging with the Workspace, testing its features and contributing ideas and suggestions.
This direct involvement is an important part of the development process. Feedback from users helps identify what works well, where improvements may be needed and which functionalities and opportunities could bring the greatest value to the community.
The insights gathered through these activities will inform the further development of the Workspace, helping ensure that it evolves in response to the needs, expectations and experiences of its users.
A community-driven approach to digital collaboration
The Time Machine Connect Programme is built on the understanding that meaningful digital collaboration requires more than technology alone. It depends on bringing people together, understanding different perspectives and creating opportunities for communities to actively shape the tools and environments they use.
By encouraging participation from across the cultural heritage and technology sectors, the programme aims to strengthen connections, facilitate knowledge exchange and support new forms of collaboration within the European digital heritage ecosystem.
The recent Workspace testing activities represent an important step in this process, but they are only the beginning. TMO will continue to create opportunities for stakeholders and interested community members to contribute their experience, ideas and feedback.
What’s next? Join us at DTI Conference Prague 2026!
There will be further opportunities to get involved in the development of Time Machine Connect, including a dedicated workshop at the Digitise. Transform. Inspire. (DTI) Conference Prague 2026, taking place from 18–20 November 2026 at Břevnov Monastery in Prague.
As a founding member of the DTI Alliance, TMO is pleased to support the conference, which will bring together the international archival, cultural heritage and digital innovation communities for discussions, knowledge exchange and collaboration.
The programme will address topics including digitisation and preservation, AI and data innovation, interoperability, research and public engagement. The Time Machine Connect workshop will provide another opportunity to engage with the Workspace and contribute perspectives to its ongoing development.
We look forward to continuing the conversation, welcoming new participants and working together to shape the future of Time Machine Connect.
Explore the programme and find out how to participate:
Thank you to everyone who has already participated, tested the Workspace and shared their feedback. Your contributions are helping shape what comes next!