A world of Augmented Reality to be discovered at the Arboretum


Released 25/07/2017

Today I launched a new augmented reality app in the Himalayan cedar Forest, bringing the stories and history of the Arboretum’s diverse landscape to life.    

The ‘National Arboretum Canberra’ app enriches the visitor experience at the Arboretum, adding holograms, stories and sounds to the beautiful forests, buildings and gardens.

The app evolved from a winning collaboration between local company APositive Augmented Reality and the Arboretum as part of the Canberra Digital Challenge, run by the ACT Government’s Small Business Innovation Partnerships.

The augmented reality app was co-funded on a matched dollar-for-dollar basis through the Commonwealth Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program in partnership with the National Arboretum Canberra and VisitCanberra.

We are lucky to have such a significant site in our own backyard, and I invite all Canberrans to come to the Arboretum and enjoy this new experience for themselves.

You can now walk among the forests and enjoy listening to the diverse stories of the trees come to life, with holograms featuring tales of a fire fighter, harpist, landscape architect, Ngunnawal man, volunteer guide and bonsai artist.

This app is a great chance for children and their families to put on their walking shoes and connect with nature-based outdoor activities with the added dimension of holograms, soundscapes and information pips scattered throughout the Arboretum.

All you need to do is download the ‘National Arboretum Canberra’ app on your tablet or smart device from the App Store or Google Play, and scan the images marked with the AR (augmented reality) symbol on signs and postcards at the Arboretum. You can tap the pips to see information and tap the sound icon to listen to the soundscapes in the forests.

More information is available from www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au or from the fantastic staff at the Arboretum.

- Statement ends -

Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases

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