W5 Edutainment To The Next Level with INDE’s Fully Interactive AR system

Published: July 13, 2017

W5, an award-winning Interactive Discovery Centre in Belfast, has added a live-controlled Augmented Reality system called LiveAvatar, featuring SEAN the alien and other 3D characters, to their existing dinosaur-themed BroadcastAR experience. Both systems were developed and installed by UK company INDE.

INDE’s Back to the Jurassic AR experience, launched at W5 last year, has already given thousands of visitors the opportunity to stand side by side with a life-sized T-Rex, the giant diplodocus, a pack of raptors, and other fascinating creatures from the Jurassic.

With the recent launch of LiveAvatar, kids and adults are now also able to meet and interact with SEAN the alien - but in - a slightly different way than with the dinosaurs. The 3D alien character on screen is being controlled by an actor via motion and speech in real time.  This enables the audience to not only see themselves with an alien on screen, but also have a conversation with SEAN, dance with him or pose for pictures to keep and share this one-of-a-kind encounter.

As an increasing number of institutions and companies in education and entertainment are looking at innovative ways to provide unforgettable experiences to their audiences, Augmented Reality has become one of the most sought-after technologies today, due to its ability to engage, educate and entertain in a unique, unparalleled way.