Augmented Reality (AR) is rapidly becoming integrated into various aspects of our lives. According to Statista, it is projected that there will be 1.7 billion active mobile AR devices globally by the end of 2024, a significant increase from 0.44 billion in 2019. Implementing AR installations can create new revenue streams and enhance profitability. Furthermore, it can breathe new life into attractions that may have lost popularity or relevance.
Augmented Reality in Museums
AR experiences in museums serve as a powerful tool to enhance the educational value of exhibits. Rather than simply reading signs or listening to audio guides passively, visitors can engage with their surroundings using AR technology. For example, the Sanxingdui Museum in China is a thematic museum showcasing numerous bronze, jade, and gold artifacts from the ancient Shu period dating back three thousand years. Through AR, this museum is able to vividly bring to life the art and culture of ancient China’s heritage and lost civilization.
One notable example is «The Story of the Forest,» an immersive digital display located in the Glass Rotunda of the National Museum of Singapore. As visitors walk along a 170m spiral pathway, they are accompanied by 3D animals, forest sounds, plants, and scents that change with the shifting scenery between night and day, reflecting the different seasons.
MAUA is an innovative augmented street art museum with sites in Milan, Palermo, and Turin. Visitors can explore these outdoor galleries by downloading an app and following designated itinerary maps. These sites are accessible 24/7, allowing visitors to view murals on walls, buildings, and metro interchanges at their convenience. Upon reaching augmented reality wall art, visitors can frame the images with their smartphones and witness them come alive—painted characters wave, reptiles leap off the walls, and fish swim across buildings.
Augmented Reality in Amusement & Theme Parks
Delivering exceptional customer experiences is essential for satisfaction, loyalty, and repeat business in amusement parks. Visitors not only seek excellent service but also crave unique and thrilling experiences. By utilizing AR headsets or mobile devices, theme park guests can interact with virtual objects, characters, and effects seamlessly integrated into the physical environment. Universal Studios Japan introduced a successful AR experience with the Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge ride. Participants enter a replica of Bowser’s Castle, donning red Mario caps and AR headsets. They engage in a physical ride enhanced by digital elements, aiming at targets visible through the headsets. Various characters appear during the adventure, allowing riders to compete with each other.
Legoland Windsor Resort exemplifies how AR can enhance theme park adventures and elevate each visit. For the launch of LEGO Mythica: World of Mythical Creatures, LEGOLAND created an AR experience where guests embark on an augmented scavenger hunt after watching the 4D film «LEGO Mythica: Journey to Mythica.» Using the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort app, visitors explore their surroundings to discover AR-activated LEGO models, bringing beloved characters to life. By scanning QR codes, users can unlock virtual vortexes to encounter baby Lava Dragons, gather rocks for the Crystal Claw Crabs, assist Bitsandbobs in finding his wing, take selfies with characters, and collect digital trading cards.
Today you can create your first AR project for free, thanks to the Stories AR platform. Check the details here.
