Digital Ipswich aims to make Ipswich a more digitally enabled town thanks to Towns Deal funding. One Digital Ipswich project is to develop ten augmented reality trails around the town for everyone to enjoy.
Augmented Reality (AR) is an interactive experience that combines the real world and computer generated content using smartphones. An AR Trail is a guided tour using a mobile phone to navigate a set route that offers learning and fun as part of a virtual interactive experience. Temporary pop-up AR Trails in Christchurch and Holywells Parks have proved popular with families.
Thanks to Town’s Deal funding, we will now create up to ten permanent AR trails around Ipswich. These trails will further highlight the town’s strong heritage and culture and help to increase the town’s economic vitality. In addition, we hope the trails will appeal to residents, visitors and staycationers, encouraging everyone to engage in an activity that supports active health and wellbeing.
We want the people of Ipswich to get involved in developing these AR Trails, so a consultation to vote for the themes was held, this closed on 11 December. All contributions will be put to the Town’s Deal Project Board, and the ten selected will be turned into an AR trail!
A list of trails that already exist around Ipswich can be found here
2.Below are some ideas for possible trails:
Various Sports | Football and Ipswich Town FC |
Art and sculpture | Literature |
Ghouls and Ghosts | Time Travel series 1800s to 2100 |
Architecture and Medieval Churches | Top Ten locations |
Musicans and music | Guess the age (history) |
Blue spaces and water theme | Green spaces and nature theme |
Food lovers | Charitable causes |
Gaming (inspired by the concept of Pokémon Go) | Animal lovers or wildlife |
The trail themes determined will be communicated and there will be the opportunity for survey respondents to help shape the trails through input in writing or research, content creation, animation, visuals, fact-checking and of course user testing!
If you would like to be involved, we’d love to hear from you, please email town.fund@ipswich.gov.uk