EXPLORE ENGAGE DELIVER WORLD FIRST AUGMENTED REALITY INTERACTIVE FOR TARONGA ZOO AND AUSGRID
EXPLORE ENGAGE DELIVER WORLD FIRST AUGMENTED REALITY INTERACTIVE FOR TARONGA ZOO & AUSGRID
16 November 2011 | Sydney
Augmented reality specialists, Explore Engage along with Blaze Advertising, Ausgrid and Taronga Zoo recently delivered a world’s first in creating an immersive augmented
reality (AR) experience to celebrate Ausgrid Zoo Month 2011.
The focus of this year’s event was on energy efficiency, demonstrating how even the simplest energy saving actions can have a positive impact on our environment.
The main attraction during Ausgrid Zoo Month was the purpose built state-of-the-art augmented reality Disney style display, set up at Taronga’s Great Southern Oceans
precinct. Over 10,000 visitors were able to engage with real propos and interact with a computer animated 3D representation of Nala, Taronga’s Australian Sea-Lion and
Ausgrid’s Energy Efficiency Ambassador Amy, to explore the different ways to be more energy efficient around the home.
“Ausgrid zoo month provided a unique and innovative experience for our visitors to learn key energy saving messages in a fun and interactive way. Taronga’s Australian
Sea-lion was transformed into the digital world and Augmented Reality was used to create a memorable and engaging activity for visitors.” Said Anthony Dunsford, Sponsorship Manager Taronga Zoo.
The experience combined cutting-edge 3D depth camera and motion sensing technology to have an awareness of the participants to power a series of reactions and
animations that are triggered by their interaction with the props and actions within the environment.
Explore Engage deployed a world’s first solution to digitally mask out, in real-time a user (without using a green screen) so that our digital seal “Nala” was able to swim and
interact around them.
“Typically when augmented reality digital assets are applied to a camera feed, they can be overlaid, and appear next to whomever is in view, but to have them appear
behind – or swim around like “Nala” does – is very unique!” said Paul Kouppas,CTO, of Explore Engage. “This is also the first such interactive experience of its kind in Australia
using depth camera technology.”
The installation software and hardware props integrated a game engine to allow for real-time rendering of complex 3D animations and effects. The installation featured
sensors concealed in a large (2.3 x 1.8m) rear-projected screen. Along the front of the screen participants were tracked as they interacted and moved in the space. The
software could detect their three dimensional positioning and interactions in real time.
The detection data was used by the software to then calculate what it “sees” and determine details of how to respond. Based on this data the application delivered the
appropriate response, including a rewarding 3D animated end sequence by “Nala” using real-time occlusion culling to make fast sweeping loops around the participants.
The resulting experience was both very compelling and highly interactive.
Explore Engage was responsible for the technical development, 3D, animation, hardware setup and implementation.