Stirling has turn out to be a totally augmented actuality (AR) metropolis in an “thrilling world-first”, organisers have introduced.
Leading edge software program has reworked the customer expertise in Stirling, permitting folks to discover the town by means of their smartphone display screen.
The AR expertise sees designers improve components of the consumer’s bodily world with computer-generated enter.
They create inputs starting from sound to video in digital content material which responds in actual time to modifications within the consumer’s surroundings, sometimes motion.
Stirling’s wealthy historical past and heritage are dropped at life by means of interactive video games which unlock rewards and incentives.
📱 #Stirling will turn out to be the primary absolutely #Augmented #Reality (AR) metropolis on this planet following a ground-breaking undertaking involving Stirling Council, @BTBusiness and @Seymourpowell. #StirlingXP
Discover out extra: https://t.co/ZHdmAkuoT8 pic.twitter.com/X3aZoAtdhg
— Stirling Council (@StirlingCouncil) November 10, 2022
To entry the brand new AR surroundings, customers have to obtain the free Stirling XP app after which maintain up their telephones as they navigate the town.
On the app’s launch within the metropolis centre on Thursday, council chief Christopher Kane stated Stirling is on the coronary heart of Scottish historical past.
“Our tourism historical past actually stems from the Battle of Stirling Bridge and Stirling is surrounded by a wealth of historic infrastructure,” he stated.
“We’re a implausible location to come back to if you wish to find out about Scottish historical past.”
Mr Kane, who has lived in Stirling all his life and was elected chief of the council earlier this 12 months, stated the app will permit the historic story of Stirling to be informed in a approach that resonates with guests immediately.
“For years, I’ve been making an attempt to get my youngsters off smartphones,” he joked, “However this exhibits: for those who can’t beat them, be part of them.
“I see my youngsters enjoying Pokemon Go, questioning round and selecting issues up within the recreation – we’re doing the identical factor.”
The AR metropolis was created with Stirling Council in collaboration with BT and Seymour Powell, a tech innovation firm with a base at Codebase Stirling which helped develop the cutting-edge software program.
Stirling Council has invested £200,000 within the undertaking, with funding from the Scottish Authorities Place Primarily based Funding Programme.
Mr Kane added: “Providing this entire AR surroundings throughout Stirling is an thrilling world-first and can revolutionise the customer expertise in our superb metropolis.
“Stirling’s historic metropolis centre and world-class sights shall be overlaid with interactive data, graphics, 3D fashions and rather more, creating a totally immersive and dynamic expertise that no different metropolis at present gives.
“Stirling is already a must-visit vacation spot, and this pioneering product will elevate the town’s profile and entice extra folks to come back right here, boosting the broader tourism financial system.
“The brand new free app may even open up a plethora of implausible alternatives for native companies and can make Stirling a extra inclusive and accessible place that’s setting the world commonplace for subsequent technology tourism.”
Chris Doughty, head of immersive experiences at Seymour Powell, stated: “The Stirling XP undertaking demonstrates what is feasible when cutting-edge infrastructure suppliers, optimistic and forward-looking public our bodies and award-winning designers work collectively.
“Utilizing Google’s new Geospatial platform, we had been capable of design a very immersive expertise that brings the town to life by revealing an thrilling digital layer, gamifying native historical past and offering vacationers with native challenges that encourage them to exit and discover the town.
“We’re delighted to have been capable of ship a undertaking which firmly positions Stirling as a world-class digital vacation spot and paves the best way for continued, industry-leading, growth.”
