Six ideas and resources for tourist attractions considering audio visual experiences
The UNESCO 2018 World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on Saturday October 27 is a celebration of all things AV.
So it’s a good moment to see what’s out there for visitor attractions considering more experiences featuring moving images, sounds and the latest virtual and augmented reality technology.
Here’s a few interesting articles we’ve enjoyed.
And don’t forget to check out our post, The future tourism experience: what is right for your attraction?.
Qa Research MD Richard Bryan will talk about this new tech and tourism at the UK Inbound general meeting in December.
Expanding virtually, not physically
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund announced in September that it is abandoning long-held plans to build an underground education centre. Instead it will focus more on online resources and augmented reality tools to ‘inject historical context into everyday life’. Could this actually work out better?
Tourist information tool
The Hub Hotel group, from Premier Inn, has made augmented reality compatible with the wall maps it places in hotel rooms. ‘When viewed through a smartphone or tablet, the wall maps include extra information about some of the local places of interest, serving as a kind of tourist information tool.’ One example of many interesting nuggets.
AR and VR in 2019
Lots to take on board in this fascinating research by SuperData. But it has two main headlines – that augmented reality is to make more money than virtual reality in 2019; but nevertheless this “will be the year of VR”, thanks to the launch of Oculus Quest.
The power of sound and moving images
A new podcast, Stories of AV Archives, has just launched, and could be a must-listen. This first episode features contributions from BFI and British Museum experts on the importance of protecting and maintaining access to our audiovisual heritage.
Easy does it
Booking.com’s forecast for the year ahead says that tourists will look to virtual and augmented reality to make life easier for them. From tracking their luggage on an app, to using AR to explore a destination before they travel, tech that makes things simple is key.
Small charity, big plans
Here’s an example of linking the past and future together. In addition to producing new print works, The Durham Victoria County History Trust wants to bring Barnard Castle to life using the latest technology, saying: ‘By rebuilding it virtually, it would be possible to stand at any spot in the castle and see what it would have looked like at a particular moment in time, which no one has seen for many years.’ A partnership with Teesside University could help make this virtual reality… well, a reality.
For more information about our work with the tourism sector contact managing director Richard Bryan: richard.bryan@qaresearch.co.uk and 01904 632039
