Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2013 issue 1
Editor's letter: VISAS – Not sexy, but vital
Of the 656 million tourists who visited G20 countries in 2011,
110 million needed a visa, but millions more were deterred
from travelling by the cost and difficulty of obtaining one
Profile: Sim Choo Kheng
The creator of Escape, Malaysia's new,
sustainable theme park, describes how
his free range childhood and a desire
to coax Asian children away from their
computers inspired the park's ethos
Heritage: Points of view
Egypt's Giza pyramids have been
brought to life by a 3D project, which
enables them to be shared worldwide
while protecting their heritage
Top team: Play and display
Contemporary art is used to encourage
children's interest and participation in art
as well as making them better citizens at
the New Children's Museum in San Diego
New opening: High life
At 310m, The View From The Shard is
Europe's tallest viewing platform as well
as being London's latest landmark. CE
Anders Nyberg describes the project
The Art of The Brick Digital Guide Users get a tour of the exhibition by the artist himself through Antenna’s digital guide for ArtScience Museum, Singapore.
Available in English and Mandarin, The Art of The Brick Digital Guide takes visitors around artist Nathan Sawaya’s fun exhibition of large-scale sculptures made from Lego bricks. Sawaya’s voice features throughout, providing in-depth interpretation plus a personal perspective on his inspirations while bringing the already vivid pieces to life.
The tone is informal, reflecting Sawaya’s desire that art should be as accessible as possible and hopefully inspiring adults and children alike to create their own artistic work out of Lego bricks when they return home.
Content is accessed through the main menu screen, which is a grid view featuring high-resolution thumbnails of the works and colour-coded to the rooms and themes of the exhibition. By pressing the image or title of the work, the audio commentary begins and a large image of the work appears on screen.
Visitors enter the number displayed on a small sign next to the works into a keypad, which is designed to look like a block of multi-coloured Lego bricks, and the content begins automatically. During playback of the commentary, it’s possible to make the images displayed full screen and zoomable. There’s also the option to read a short caption detailing when the piece was made and the exact number of bricks used, a quiz and an extensive contextual image gallery.
The Digital Guide was built using Antenna Publisher™. “We spent a great deal of time developing and customising a feature-set that we believe will deliver a rich interpretive experience,” says Matthew Vines, global marketing and communications manager. “Antenna Publisher gives us the ability to build and manage IOS, Android and HTML5 phones and tablet apps. It works by using a suite of drag a drop blocks, which represent a variety of different user experiences.”
The guide has been published as an application for the iOS platform. It’s available on iPod Touch players, which are given out with disposable headphones.
The digital guide is available on iPod Touch players which are given out at the museum with disposable headphones
Podcatcher Creating a guide that visitors can learn to use in less than a minute was the aim for Guide ID’s Podcatcher Interactive Platform and app. Already in use at Royal Palace Amsterdam and Kröller Müller Museum in The Netherlands, and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, UK, the guide is ideal for attractions operators who want to offer a simple guide that visitors can understand and use straight away.
On arrival, visitors receive a Podcatcher handset or download the app and select which tour, quiz or language they’d like. Throughout the attraction, IDentifiers, QR codes or both are located, which trigger the content of that location or object. Visitors point the Podcatcher or scan a QR code to listen to the information and follow simple instructions to access a trail, tour, quiz or interactive game. If visitor research is being done, they’ll also be asked to answer some questions at the end of their visit. Additional messages can be added at any time about offers in the café and shop or about future events.
Online software (CMS) is used to create content, store the different tours and update the whole platform (Podcatcher and app) on a daily basis. Both the Podcatcher and app are controlled from this system, so changes only have to be made once.
The Podcatchers are charged in small docking stations, which also connect them to the internet via a USB connection to a computer. The content on the handsets is triggered by infrared signals, which are sent out by the IDentifiers. The app runs from the visitors phone and is triggered by QR code scanning.
The platform’s online software collects all the live visitor feedback data, which is stored as the handsets and apps are used. This gives clients the opportunity to research and evaluate their business on a daily basis.
Soon to be launched is ID Guide’s online marketing via email collecting.
The Podcatcher handset can be understood and in use by visitors within a minute of them receiving it
Kelvingrove Art Gallery’s new guide
Acoustiguide Vstory Acoustiguide has partnered with visual recognition and augmented reality specialists Vstory to further enhance its offer.
Using the Vstory image recognition and augmented reality platform, visitors can interact directly with exhibits at an attraction, with or without a Wi-Fi connection. The technology allows visitors to access visual and audio content on their own devices (iOS and Android) without having to key in any numbers or press anything on screen. It can work with pictures, objects and buildings and can link through to all kinds of media including audio, video, images and text.
The Acoustiguide Vstory app can be downloaded free from the App Store or Google Play or a product sheet can be downloaded from Acoustiguide’s website.
Users can find out more about HMS Belfast using the Acoustiguide Vstory app
The Legacy of the House of Alba For the first time in Spain, traditional audio guides have been exchanged for Nintendo 3DS XL consoles at the exhibition The Legacy of the House of Alba.
Currently showing at the CentroCentro Cibeles cultural centre in Madrid, the exhibition brings together around 150 paintings – including masterpieces by Goya, Renoir and Rubens – sculptures, historical documents and manuscripts, archaeological artefacts, jewellery and furniture, many of which have never been shown to the public before.
The use of the Nintendo 3DS XL consoles makes it possible to tour the main exhibits in three dimensions, as well as providing additional information. Visitors can see magnified images of the works, listen to explanations of the pieces, discover interesting facts and test their knowledge of the House of Alba.
The Duchess of Alba in White, painted by Goya in 1795, is among the masterpieces
Visitors use the console for a 3D tour
Museum Explorer Visitors to the National Museum of Scotland can find the ugliest, fiercest, smelliest and oldest objects using the app Museum Explorer.
Visitors choose a category on their phone and then follow the clues to find the relevant object in the museum, which could be anywhere across its 36 galleries. The object categories are: fiercest; oldest; smelliest; ugliest; fairest; strongest; tallest; and bloodiest. When they’ve found an object, visitors unlock a badge and can take and share a photo of their discovery featuring a unique set of frames. There are eight challenges to solve, with a ninth object unlocked when all the others are found.
“We were keen to attract people who had already visited the museum and give them a reason for returning and an alternative way of exploring what’s there,” says Kirsty Tough, marketing and communications assistant. “We purposefully selected objects from areas of the museum that are slightly off the beaten track, as well as some all-time favourites, so there was a good spread of material.
“We focused on nine objects, rather than 9,000, to make sure it didn’t feel overwhelming – we see the app as a gateway to further exploration.”
The app was designed and developed by Kotikan, Pocket Proof Ltd and staff at National Museums Scotland.
The app is available on Apple iOS
COMPANY PROFILES
DJW
David & Lynn Willrich started the Company
over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual
Department [more...]
Simworx Ltd
The company was initially established
in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew
Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
RMA Ltd
RMA Ltd is a one-stop global company
that can design, build and produce from a
greenfield site upw [more...]
IDEATTACK
IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and
design company with headquarters in
Los Angeles. [more...]
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2013 issue 1
Editor's letter: VISAS – Not sexy, but vital
Of the 656 million tourists who visited G20 countries in 2011,
110 million needed a visa, but millions more were deterred
from travelling by the cost and difficulty of obtaining one
Profile: Sim Choo Kheng
The creator of Escape, Malaysia's new,
sustainable theme park, describes how
his free range childhood and a desire
to coax Asian children away from their
computers inspired the park's ethos
Heritage: Points of view
Egypt's Giza pyramids have been
brought to life by a 3D project, which
enables them to be shared worldwide
while protecting their heritage
Top team: Play and display
Contemporary art is used to encourage
children's interest and participation in art
as well as making them better citizens at
the New Children's Museum in San Diego
New opening: High life
At 310m, The View From The Shard is
Europe's tallest viewing platform as well
as being London's latest landmark. CE
Anders Nyberg describes the project
The Art of The Brick Digital Guide Users get a tour of the exhibition by the artist himself through Antenna’s digital guide for ArtScience Museum, Singapore.
Available in English and Mandarin, The Art of The Brick Digital Guide takes visitors around artist Nathan Sawaya’s fun exhibition of large-scale sculptures made from Lego bricks. Sawaya’s voice features throughout, providing in-depth interpretation plus a personal perspective on his inspirations while bringing the already vivid pieces to life.
The tone is informal, reflecting Sawaya’s desire that art should be as accessible as possible and hopefully inspiring adults and children alike to create their own artistic work out of Lego bricks when they return home.
Content is accessed through the main menu screen, which is a grid view featuring high-resolution thumbnails of the works and colour-coded to the rooms and themes of the exhibition. By pressing the image or title of the work, the audio commentary begins and a large image of the work appears on screen.
Visitors enter the number displayed on a small sign next to the works into a keypad, which is designed to look like a block of multi-coloured Lego bricks, and the content begins automatically. During playback of the commentary, it’s possible to make the images displayed full screen and zoomable. There’s also the option to read a short caption detailing when the piece was made and the exact number of bricks used, a quiz and an extensive contextual image gallery.
The Digital Guide was built using Antenna Publisher™. “We spent a great deal of time developing and customising a feature-set that we believe will deliver a rich interpretive experience,” says Matthew Vines, global marketing and communications manager. “Antenna Publisher gives us the ability to build and manage IOS, Android and HTML5 phones and tablet apps. It works by using a suite of drag a drop blocks, which represent a variety of different user experiences.”
The guide has been published as an application for the iOS platform. It’s available on iPod Touch players, which are given out with disposable headphones.
The digital guide is available on iPod Touch players which are given out at the museum with disposable headphones
Podcatcher Creating a guide that visitors can learn to use in less than a minute was the aim for Guide ID’s Podcatcher Interactive Platform and app. Already in use at Royal Palace Amsterdam and Kröller Müller Museum in The Netherlands, and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, UK, the guide is ideal for attractions operators who want to offer a simple guide that visitors can understand and use straight away.
On arrival, visitors receive a Podcatcher handset or download the app and select which tour, quiz or language they’d like. Throughout the attraction, IDentifiers, QR codes or both are located, which trigger the content of that location or object. Visitors point the Podcatcher or scan a QR code to listen to the information and follow simple instructions to access a trail, tour, quiz or interactive game. If visitor research is being done, they’ll also be asked to answer some questions at the end of their visit. Additional messages can be added at any time about offers in the café and shop or about future events.
Online software (CMS) is used to create content, store the different tours and update the whole platform (Podcatcher and app) on a daily basis. Both the Podcatcher and app are controlled from this system, so changes only have to be made once.
The Podcatchers are charged in small docking stations, which also connect them to the internet via a USB connection to a computer. The content on the handsets is triggered by infrared signals, which are sent out by the IDentifiers. The app runs from the visitors phone and is triggered by QR code scanning.
The platform’s online software collects all the live visitor feedback data, which is stored as the handsets and apps are used. This gives clients the opportunity to research and evaluate their business on a daily basis.
Soon to be launched is ID Guide’s online marketing via email collecting.
The Podcatcher handset can be understood and in use by visitors within a minute of them receiving it
Kelvingrove Art Gallery’s new guide
Acoustiguide Vstory Acoustiguide has partnered with visual recognition and augmented reality specialists Vstory to further enhance its offer.
Using the Vstory image recognition and augmented reality platform, visitors can interact directly with exhibits at an attraction, with or without a Wi-Fi connection. The technology allows visitors to access visual and audio content on their own devices (iOS and Android) without having to key in any numbers or press anything on screen. It can work with pictures, objects and buildings and can link through to all kinds of media including audio, video, images and text.
The Acoustiguide Vstory app can be downloaded free from the App Store or Google Play or a product sheet can be downloaded from Acoustiguide’s website.
Users can find out more about HMS Belfast using the Acoustiguide Vstory app
The Legacy of the House of Alba For the first time in Spain, traditional audio guides have been exchanged for Nintendo 3DS XL consoles at the exhibition The Legacy of the House of Alba.
Currently showing at the CentroCentro Cibeles cultural centre in Madrid, the exhibition brings together around 150 paintings – including masterpieces by Goya, Renoir and Rubens – sculptures, historical documents and manuscripts, archaeological artefacts, jewellery and furniture, many of which have never been shown to the public before.
The use of the Nintendo 3DS XL consoles makes it possible to tour the main exhibits in three dimensions, as well as providing additional information. Visitors can see magnified images of the works, listen to explanations of the pieces, discover interesting facts and test their knowledge of the House of Alba.
The Duchess of Alba in White, painted by Goya in 1795, is among the masterpieces
Visitors use the console for a 3D tour
Museum Explorer Visitors to the National Museum of Scotland can find the ugliest, fiercest, smelliest and oldest objects using the app Museum Explorer.
Visitors choose a category on their phone and then follow the clues to find the relevant object in the museum, which could be anywhere across its 36 galleries. The object categories are: fiercest; oldest; smelliest; ugliest; fairest; strongest; tallest; and bloodiest. When they’ve found an object, visitors unlock a badge and can take and share a photo of their discovery featuring a unique set of frames. There are eight challenges to solve, with a ninth object unlocked when all the others are found.
“We were keen to attract people who had already visited the museum and give them a reason for returning and an alternative way of exploring what’s there,” says Kirsty Tough, marketing and communications assistant. “We purposefully selected objects from areas of the museum that are slightly off the beaten track, as well as some all-time favourites, so there was a good spread of material.
“We focused on nine objects, rather than 9,000, to make sure it didn’t feel overwhelming – we see the app as a gateway to further exploration.”
The app was designed and developed by Kotikan, Pocket Proof Ltd and staff at National Museums Scotland.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
DJW David & Lynn Willrich started the Company
over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual
Department [more...]
Simworx Ltd The company was initially established
in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew
Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
RMA Ltd RMA Ltd is a one-stop global company
that can design, build and produce from a
greenfield site upw [more...]
IDEATTACK IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and
design company with headquarters in
Los Angeles. [more...]
