App ‘quirky’ twist for science festival
IF you think a poster promoting next month’s New Zealand International Science Festival could not send a robot to the moon, think again.
Festival director Dan Hendra yesterday showed the way an app created by Dunedin firm Peekavu Ltd enabled people to use their smartphones to watch an image of a robot on the poster in ‘‘augmented reality’’.
Participants could also play a game during which the robot, named Mohio (knowledge), could be ‘‘flown’’ to the moon, Mr Hendra said.
Wall posters had long been used to promote the Dunedinbased biennial festival, first held in 1997, but the app provided a fun and ‘‘quirky’’ twist.
He was keen to break down the traditional stereotype of the scientist as a whitecoated older man.
Mr Hendra said that the app and its moonflying game were likely to appeal to young visitors to the festival, which runs from July 6 to 15.
The latest festival also includes quirky paidentry DIY Marshmallow Bazooka Workshops on the mornings of July 78 at Mitre 10 Mega in Andersons Bay Rd.
The vacuum cleanerpowered ‘‘bazooka’’ would send marshmallows ‘‘flying skyhigh’’.
Insights into the ‘‘surprising new robots’’ being developed around the world would be offered in a paidentry talk titled ‘‘Robots: A New Generation’’, at the same venue on Thursday, July 12, at 6pm.
Some of the world’s top experts, including Karen Willcox, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT in the United States, would attend the festival, which would deliver more than 200 events.
There would also be input from Dunedin residents, including Animation Research Ltd chief executive Ian Taylor, Prof Richie Poulton, of the University of Otago, and Igtimi Ltd cofounder Kylie Robinson.