Based on a press release, the AR technology instance will enable a revolutionary exploration of HK culture and history. The “HKACT! Act 1 BeHere” is a showcase developed and created as part of the Design District Hong Kong (#ddHK) initiative.
The project enables people to take a trip to the past to explore various aspects of the city and offers them to the opportunity to go click-happy at the renowned Blue House utilising augmented reality on their cellphones. In addition to a roadside stall selling food, participants can view other scenarios like one with playing children, and a barbershop.
According to a project consultant from the Hong Kong Design Centre The Blue House is one of the locations for the AR project. Both past and present information are being utilised as part of the project at this location. Tourists can observe how the locale containing the Blue House has remained almost the same. They can also compare this location to others they have visited before.
According to the consultant the location is being considered as an ideal choice, as it enables tourists to get a glimpse into the history of the site, and know more about the area based on old stories.
Tourists can take a walk down to Lee Tung Avenue to observe workers moving around big ice blocks, and also visit the Old Wan Chai Post Office where they will find a letter writer on duty. All of the scenes are enacted by actors and presented through augmented reality technology.
The role of advanced immersive technology in promoting and developing tourism is quite important now. The project creators of “HKACT! Act 1 BeHere” are providing a better experience to the visitors who can enact a scene in both the past and the present.
The Tourism Commission is the body responsible for the AR showcases are a part of the three-year-long tourism project named #ddHK. Another part of the project is the #ddCreativePlacemaking, which deals with reimagining public locations with design elements. One instance of this is the Kong Wan Fire Station gates being decorated with creative typography. Several such examples are created through design emulations at different parts of Hong Kong.
The Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development secretary spoke during the project opening, remarking that design elements can be utilised for helping tourists, as well as locals, get a fresh perspective of the city. According to him, the #ddHK initiative highlighted the connection between old and new Hong Kong, and different aspects of life in the city, with the aid of creative design.
The #ddHK project showcases two districts of Hong Kong, Sham Shui Po, and Wan Chai. The feature contains several activities exploring the history, traditions and cultural heritage.
Hong Kong locals will be able to revisit historical places and reconnect, while visitors can expand their knowledge of the city. The choice of Hong Kong as the ideal location for this project boils down to its reputation as a global hub of business and tourism.
