On October 25, 2011 there was the AR-4-Basel Showcase Event during which we highlighted the best experiences created for Basel as part of the AR-4-Basel project. We hereby recognize those projects which demonstrate innovation, solve a problem and provide a comprehensive solution for users.
There were three awards:
- Best Data Set Mashup
- Best Multi-Lingual and Multi-Platform Tourism Experience
- Best Museum Finder and Audio Guide
Award: Best Data Set Mashup
In this experience by Augmented Technology, a UK-based company, uses the data sets of the IWB (including water, electricity, heating and gas) as well as the POIs and tree data set provided by the Land and Survey office of Basel. By combining these data, the Awila browser for utilities professionals shows where the roots and the branches of trees could interfere with or damage the infrastructure for delivery of services to businesses and residential customers. The data are color coded to make separation of the services easier.
Award: Best Multi-Lingual and Multi-Platform Tourism Experience
mCRUMBS, the developer of multi-browser AR experiences, uses the complete Basel Tourism data set in four languages (French, German, Spanish and English). The main implementation is in Layar. There are four layers for Basel Toursim, one in each language. Within the main layer, there are dedicated layers for different tourism data: restaurants, museums, architecture, etc. This creates a very comprehensive and elegant solution. For each POI there is one or more photographs, text description and other information such as the hours of operations.
The same data can be implemented for other AR browsers with ease using the mCRUMBS Content Management System for mobile AR.
Award: Best Museum Finder and Audio Guide
Museums and Art Galleries are like the life blood of Basel. There are so many from which to choose! It is an embarrassment of riches.
Brian Sutherland, University of Toronto, took the Basel museum section of the Tourism data set and created a museum "finder" experience to make it easier for the tourist to use AR for going to the museum of choice. This experience, viewable in the Layar AR browser, is accompanied by a supplementary audio guide layer.
