Augmented reality brings Olympics birthplace to life
OLYMPIA, Greece — What would it be like to walk around the ancient religious sanctuary of Olympia when the Olympic Games were held?
An unusual partnership between Microsoft and Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sport is offering visitors the answer, launching an immersive tour this week at one of the world’s major archaeological sites.
The program at ancient Olympia harnesses augmented reality technology that designers say has the potential to transform education, business and entertainment. Critics warn it will extend the invasive power of U.S. tech giants.
The Culture Ministry helped Microsoft map and build virtual representations at Olympia, a site used for nearly 1,000 years to host the games in ancient Greece that served as the inspiration for the modern Olympics.
“It’s a milestone ... that helped us bring technology and culture and history together so we can preserve it,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a video message at the launch.
Users can tour the site remotely or in person with an online presentation and an augmented-like mobile app at Olympia, seeing a virtual recreation of temples and competition areas as they walk through the ruins. At the Olympic Museum in Athens, they can use Microsoft’s mixed-reality HoloLens headsets that overlay visual information on top of what the viewer sees.
Tilt up and a towering statue of Zeus plated in ivory and gold comes into view; turn left and peer into the workshop used by the famed sculptor Phidias at the ancient sanctuary more than 2,400 years ago.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that we’re able to present to the world a completely new cultural experience using technology to recreate the ancient world of Olympia,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Associated Press after joining a group of schoolchildren using the app for the first time.
On Wednesday, seventh and eighth graders from a local school pinched, zoomed and rotated the monuments that had been brought to life on their smartphones.
Microsoft started the project 18 months ago, scouring Olympia with drones and sensors, after reaching an agreement with the Greek government to build three data centers in greater Athens in an investment to reach up to $1 billion.
Tech companies are racing to deliver mixed reality platforms and gear that would blend the internet with everyday experience, with glasses doubling as personal projectors to provide extra information like route options for bicyclists, player stats for fans at sports venues, or virtual fitting rooms at home for shoppers.
Microsoft’s HoloLens headset costs around $3,500 and is typically used by people like doctors or those maintaining jetliners but a convergence of cheaper eyewear, ever-shrinking processing power and faster internet connections is starting to put it within mainstream reach, experts say.