Florence, May 7 2010 – “I’m on via delle Terme… I wonder what’s interesting to see around here…”. “OK, I’m in front of Palagio di Parte Guelfa, sounds familiar but what is it?”. “Where can I find a good Tuscan restaurant in this area with a menu written in English?”. Download the app Tuscany+ and the answers to these questions will be at your fingertips, whether you’re a tourist or if you were born in Dante territory.
Voglio Vivere Così, the culture and tourism promotion campaign of the region of Tuscany centered on the web portal www.turismo.intoscana.it launches Tuscany+, the first Augmented Reality app ever created specifically for the tourism sector. It’s based on innovative technology that, when pointed at any real space through the phone’s camera, overlays a range of information, be it multimedia, virtual elements, geolocalized data, or information from websites. It was created with the idea of offering travelers in Tuscany an interactive, real-time guide in order to enhance the trip, already rich in culture and traditions, with virtual and multimedia technology.
The application is free to download on Apple’s App Store. Tuscany+ features simple, attractive design in both its modes: “live” and “map”.
Get directions and information in real-time
TuscanyTunes, Tuscanycious and TuscanyTips. Picture by TuscanyArts!
Live allows the user to point an iPhone at any scene in Tuscany and balloons will pop up with information in four categories: sightseeing, with information from Wikipedia, Wikitravel, and the web team of Voglio Vivere Così; accomodation that finds hotels, B&Bs, and agritourisms with data from Google Local and an aggregation of online reviews; dining, which includes the ability to read comments posted by others; and entertainment, which lists nightlife spots including jazz clubs, pubs, etc.
Map mode puts this information on a map alongside one’s actual location, thanks to aggregate data from Google Maps and Google Transit, allowing the user to discover proximity to important monuments, or to find information about any of the services described above – find a pizzeria, a pub, or a room for the night.
If by chance the user has the misfortune of being in any other geographic region than Tuscany, the application, upon opening, will simply say “ you are x kilometers away from your dream”. This is the perfect moment to dream about and plan a trip to this rich region.
Tuscany+ is the first custom application of this type developed entirely in Italy (but it speaks both Italian and English!). It’s a project by H-art (*), the interactive design agency and partner of Fondazione Sistema Toscana in the tourism promotion campaign “Voglio Vivere Così”. Thanks to the partnership with Apple, the application is now freely available for iPhone, since it is considered the only device able to fully support all of the app’s interactive potential (satellite positioning and compass are required), while the feasibility of extending an application to other devices is being studied.
Do stay tuned: Voglio Vivere Così has many more surprises up its sleeve for 2010!
Follow the hashtag #tuscanyplus on Twitter!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ben Sykes. Ben Sykes said: #AR Tuscany+: the first Augmented Reality tourism application | Around … http://bit.ly/9LjTYr [...]
[...] For further info check out AroundTuscany! [...]
Nice app – but not compatible with IPhone 3 G or older. Very disappointing !
Hi Toskana,
Thanks for your comment. I know it's very disappointing that the 3G and older versions of iPhone cannot use the app. In fact all augmented reality app depends on the GPS to locate your current position and say what exactly are you looking at.
It's time you change iPhone…
Hope to hear from you soon here at AroundTuscany!
Ciao ciao
Barbara
Nice app!
Wonderful app….
I'm really impressed…
Well done Tuscany!
[...] Are you going to Marina di Grosseto too? Try the new iPhone app Tuscany+. [...]
[...] Read also about the augmented reality app for iPhone Tuscany+: here. [...]
Esperienza negativa. Speravo meglio. Sono stato in Toscana per le vacanze e ho usato l'applicazione Tuscany+ per iPhone. Sono stato a Siena, Grosseto e altre città. Per esempio a Siena (Piazza del Campo) non ho trovato alcuna indicazione su palazzi etc. Solo alberghi e qualche ristorante.
@SocialMediaStrategy
Grazie per il tuo feedback.
Questa versione di Tuscany+ prende il database delle schede dei monumenti in inglese di wikipedia e probabilmente questi palazzi non erano inclusi.
Ricordo che questa app è una delle prime augmented reality app in tutto il mondo e sicuramente tanto è cambiato in questi ultimi mesi. Cercheremmo di migliorare la prossima versione!
Siamo sempre aperti al dialogo e a migliorare.
A presto,
Barbara
[...] Further info: Tuscany+ – iTunes link | our review [...]
Great concept, but not sure why this app had got negative ratings on the apple app store.. I havent downloaded myself, but the concept is great if it works!
from : http://www.virtualmob.co.uk
Chaya,
I can tell you that the app is great, people just need to understand what an augmented reality app is about.
About the negative ratings, if you read the comments on the apple store you'll realize that some people didn't understand what an augmented reality app is. For example:
- “sembra che funzioni solo se si inquadra qualcosa” – which means “it looks like it works only if you point the phone to something”. – well, the augmented reality shows you what is in front of you!
- “com'è possibile fare un'applicazione del genere compatibile solo con l'iPhone 3GS? E il 3G?” – he says: “how is it possible to make such an app that works only with iPhone 3GS. What about 3G?” – well, all augmented reality apps needs to understand where exactly you are and what you are looking at and it requires a technology available only in the most modern versions of iPhone.
Someone else e said it's not free! Of course the app is free, but you need to have free internet to download it! I guess it's the same with all apps, isn't it?
I have read messages of people saying the app doesn't work outside of Tuscany. Well, the name of the app is Tuscany+, it's about augmented reality in Tuscany. Of course if you are in Milan or Australia it won't work!
If you have a chance to visit Tuscany, test it and tell me what do you think.
Ciao ciao
Barbara
ciao barbara, thanks for your response to my message (just saw it today) would you be able to recommend me the company who built this for you? one of my clients wants a similar app with point of interests in AR view..thansk a lot in advance. my email is chaya@virtualmob.co.uk
Dear Chaya, one of my colleagues will soon mail you! Bye
[...] com os leitores do Brasil na Italia. Boa viagem! ps. quem quiser ler a notícia em inglês, leia: AroundTuscany. ps2. esta app é grátis. Posted by brasilnaitalia on 07/05/2010. Filed under Toscana. You [...]