By Saurabh Sameer, Director - Strategy | New Business, Custom Technologies
As the world starts slowly returning to in-person activities, which had all but been replaced by virtual activities over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is worth reflecting, for a moment, on the role Augmented Reality has increasingly played during this time.
But it would be a mistake to relegate the power of AR in Live Entertainment to the remote, virtual space.
The true power of AR is in creating spectacle in an in-person environment, with live, on-site, in-person amazement that harnesses the power of Augmented Reality.
Two examples from our work serve to illustrate this potential.
Madame Tussauds’, in Singapore, a Bollywood Pavilion
At Madame Tussauds’, in Singapore, a Bollywood Pavilion invites visitors to shake a leg to their favourite Bollywood number. They stand in front of a Digital Mirror and select a song. But as the song plays, they see themselves in the Digital Mirror, but there they find themselves performing in a Bollywood stage show, complete with dazzling lights and professional backup dancers. The illusion of being transported to momentary virtual stardom is an immensely enjoyable one.
Atal Smriti Udyaan, in Mumbai
Building on this idea, we extended its potential with the Atal Smriti Udyaan, in Mumbai, which is a memorial and a museum, dedicated to the life of the Late Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Apart from a gallery of interactive educational installations, two attractions hold place of pride at this venue. One is a holographic projection of the man himself, addressing his beloved citizens from a stage. But the other is an interactive, immersive experience that makes visitors feel like they have personally come into contact with their departed leader.
In a quiz game show format, four visitors get to compete in a quiz on the life of Shri Vajpayee, based entirely on information available in the educational gallery. But as they take their seats, and watch themselves on the Screen / Digital Mirror in front of them, they are joined by a surprise guest. In the digital reflection, they see the middle seat occupied by a Digital Reconstruction of Shri Vajpayee himself. As questions are asked, he celebrates the correct answers, and sympathises with those who got something wrong. And for each question, adds a bit of trivia, an anecdote from his life – a story less known.
The power of this illusion was illustrated best by the very first group of specially invited VIP guests to try out the attraction. A distinguished lady, seated at her podium, was startled when the display revealed Shri Vajpayee sitting right next to her, and by instinct, she felt she was sitting too close to be properly respectful to such an illustrious leader and swiftly moved her chair a little further – then burst out laughing as she realised the absurdity of fearing affront to a digital reconstruction.
The power of the mind to turn illusion to reality is immense indeed. And nothing captures it quite like Augmented Reality does.
