Reimagining Iconic Destinations With Augmented Reality

Consumer Tech Reimagining Iconic Destinations With Augmented Reality Jennifer Kite-Powell Senior Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Following New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. Got it! Oct 10, 2022, 10:42pm EDT | New! Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Mexico-city based artist Yunuene Esparza’s Sailing Through Time 2022 created as a tribute to the .

. . [+] evolution of vessels that sailed through Hamburg’s trading port.

The AR experience is part of Honor’s Gateway to the Future project. Yunuene Esparza In a new augmented reality (AR) installation launched in September, smart device maker Honor opened Gateway to the Future – an initiative designed to enrich cultural heritage through AR with two global artists, Yunuene Esparza and Timo Helgert . Both artists created AR experiences for the Wasserschloss building in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to inspire people worldwide to reimagine cultural treasures in the metaverse.

With her visual aesthetic , Esparza’s contribution to the Gateway to the Future AR experience pays tribute to the evolution of Hamburg’s port. It illustrates how innovation in marine logistics progressed through time. Helgert’s AR experience reimagines what the Wasserschloss would look if it were transformed by nature, including flora, fauna and fantastical creatures.

Timo Helgert’s fantastical, Blooming Future as part of the AR experience created with Honor. Timo Helgert MORE FOR YOU Hiring Refugees: How One Big Factory Did It WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY: A FORMER REFUGEE SHARES HER STORY Today’s ‘Quordle’ Answers And Clues For Tuesday, October 11 Set against surging interest in the metaverse and the growth of hybrid tourism, Honor’s Gateway to the Future is designed to connect communities in more immersive ways. In a press statement, the company said AR and artificial intelligence (AI) are tools to create even more phygital experiences for smartphone users, contributing to the hybrid tourism boom.

Janine Liu, Director of Marketing of Honor Germany, says Honor sees the metaverse as a virtual space enhanced by AI, AR, and spatial audio innovations. “Advancements in technology are making these virtual experiences more immersive than ever,” said Liu. “A few years ago, people would need to purchase costly VR equipment to access similar experiences.

Now, we’re making our smartphone technology so advanced that people worldwide can get a similar audio-visual experience through their smartphones. ” Esparza says the rise of AR, virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality innovations make the perfect solution for people to satisfy their hunger to experience cultural treasures from the comfort of their homes. “In 2022, the world has slowly returned to normality, with one key difference [.

. ] people have grown accustomed to the conveniences and variety that virtual experiences offer,” said Esparza. “Nothing can replace the authenticity of being able to appreciate a piece of art or cultural heritage in real life, but now, people expect more – they want phygital experiences, the best of the physical and digital worlds.

” Esparza says the beauty of AR and AI is that everyday consumers can experience the technology on their smartphones. “Art is no longer confined to physical locations. People can experience immersive AR art anywhere, anytime they want,” said Esparza.

“For the younger generation who have grown up with smartphones, art has become more accessible due to these technologies. ” Esparza believes that AI enables people to identify cultural opportunities they may overlook. “For instance, imagine being on a trip.

You could unknowingly be standing in front of a local landmark that has a rich and interesting history and misses a great photo opportunity,” said Esparza. “AI can identify buildings around you or even fetch relevant information, such as nearby cafes, when you need refueling after a long day of sightseeing. ” “These AI capabilities already exist in today’s smartphones, so anyone can harness this technology to access more enriching cultural experiences,” added Esparza.

“It connects communities with different cultural places and spaces in totally immersive ways, and to me, that’s pretty powerful. ” “During the global lockdown, people worldwide discovered a renewed appreciation for creative and cultural experiences they had previously taken for granted,” said Esparza. “Cooped up indoors and unable to travel, that appetite for connecting with culture grew so strong that people started to turn to technology to get their culture fix.

” “We believe AR and VR [. . ] have the potential to equip artists with [.

. ] creative freedom,” said Liu. “Honor’s investment in AR and VR smartphone technology lowers the barrier to entry.

” “When anyone around the world can experience AR and VR on their smartphones in buttery smooth, high definition, artists will be more inclined to harness this technology to create more immersive, enchanting artwork,” adds Liu. Virtual tourists can experience Gateway to the Future until November 2022 through the Arloopa app . Users can experience the AR artworks in real life in Hamburg or anywhere in the world.

The real-life experience can be viewed from the Poggenmühlen-Brücke in Hamburg. Virtual tourists can select an experience on any surface on the app and follow the on-screen instructions to virtually place the AR experience of their choosing on a flat surface nearby. Follow me on Twitter .

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