A tourist information company in Helensburgh is claiming a world first by using of fully interactive augmented reality in its seasonal guide to the area.
Downtown City Maps regularly produces an In & Around Loch Lomond magazine, which includes the Helensburgh and Rosneath Peninsula areas
But this spring for the first time readers will be able to fully connect with the printed page through a series of ZapCodes found throughout its pages of the magazine.
By downloading the free Zappar augmented reality app onto their smart phones or tablets (via Apple Store or Google Play) readers will be able to access rich content ranging from videos to photo slideshows, maps, direct call or email connections as well as event information and website links.
Frank Willoughby, owner of Downtown City Maps, stressed the level of innovation involved.
“Augmented reality has been around for some years now but until now publishers like me have been put off by the cost and agency input required to deliver it,” he said
“Until we found Zappar, it was really hard to see how augmented reality could ever actually fully integrate with what we do and really captivate the reader’s attention and more importantly, enhance their experience, and motivate bookings or enquiries.
“Now using the app we can really fire the reader’s imagination by bringing them video, rich imagery and content that enables them to experience in advance a whole new level of tourist information exactly where they want it – through their phones or tablets – and then book it at the press of a button.
“This is not the same as QR codes – it really is a game changer!”
Some marketing companies are thought to be turning away from print because it isn’t seen as offering the same level of engagement as digital media.
Websites and social media can be overcrowded and cluttered for users, and Frank says Zappar augmented reality allows businesses to showcase what they do with rich and engaging content via printed tourist maps and guides, connected to phones and tablets.
“We know that incoming tourist traffic continues to grow year on year throughout Scotland,” he said.
“Every year we supply hundreds of thousands of beautifully designed and printed maps and guides to hotels, venues, transport hubs and information centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh and the wider Loch Lomond and Argyll area.
“So we know that there’s a constant appetite for information, suggestions about what’s best to see and do, places to eat and drink, places to stay, what’s on locally when they are here and so on.
“We now have the means to turn our printed content and client’s adverts into a 24/7 open media channel where tourists can view information, gather knowledge, plan their itineraries and most importantly make bookings directly online.
“I already know that our Loch Lomond clients see this as a massive, innovative step forward in terms of tourist information delivery.
“Combining popular printed information with rich and engaging digital content brings together the best of both worlds and lets attraction and tour operators, restaurant owners, accommodation providers, in fact anyone with an ambition to engage with the tourist market the opportunity to showcase what they do in real time, with rich content that fully grabs the attention of the visitor.”
The spring edition of the In & Around Loch Lomond Tourist Guide is out now with additional digital content being made available all the time.
Downtown CityMaps publishes quarterly tourist maps in Glasgow and Edinburgh and will be introducing fully integrated augmented reality content to both maps from the May 2019 editions onwards.
This looks like something that would be useful for a visitor to the area. I flicked through and it seems to be worthwhile; yes there are lots of ads but they are a good start as they are location based. If you do a normal internet search the stuff you are looking for is hidden among all the rest for places totally unrelated to the place you are interested in..