Augmented reality app lets people around the world step into Scotland
“ground-breaking” app that invites the world to step into Scotland has been created as part of a global marketing campaign.
The augmented reality (AR) app gives users across the globe the chance to experience the country’s rich landscapes and attractions through their mobile phones.
Visitscotland, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Universities Scotland were involved in the app, which is available on Google Playstore and IOS platforms from yesterday.
Tourism bosses said Scotland is the first country to develop an app of this kind. It is part of the Scotland is Now campaign.
Eva Kwiecinska, senior marketing manager content at Visitscotland, said: “It is incredibly exciting to launch our first venture into the world of augmented reality and to be the first country to create an app of this kind.
“AR is an innovative way to let people from anywhere in the world experience Scotland from the palm of their hands and learn more about the country in a unique and interactive way.”
The Portal AR app allows users to use their phone screens to visit different destinations. They can use it to “virtually visit Scotland”, ride the North Coast 500 on a motorbike or discover the food and drink culture through the heritage of whisky distilleries.
The app was made by Edinburgh-based creative marketing agency Whitespace in collaboration with the Scotland Is Now team over ten weeks. Google approached Whitespace and Visitscotland after spotting a portal technique demo on Twitter.
More than 100 million devica es can currently download the app and Google is extending the number of devices that support AR apps.
Morag Malloy of Scottish Enterprise said: “This new augmented reality app will allow people from around the world to experience Scotland virtually through their own personal handheld mobile device and will showcase what Scotland has to offer as a leading place to visit, work, live, study and invest.”