Bordeaux applies augmented reality to tourism

from the past 17 September, Tourists walk through Bordeaux accompanied by a strange screen that allows them to travel back in time and discover what this French city was like in the 18th century. This is an unusual experience called Imayana that, through augmented reality, allows you to superimpose virtual 3D content on the real images of the screen.

The French town of Burdeos has been filled with peculiar tourists who walk the streets with a strange black bag hanging around their neck and staring at a screen. This is Imayana, a unique innovation in the world: a digital tablet that allows you to visit some of the most important monuments of the city through augmented reality and immerse yourself in the past and live again during the 18th century.

According to Dirigentes magazine, Imayana allows you to discover the Bordeaux of the 18th century by walking through the current streets. The tourist stands in front of the building in question and sees historical figures appear on his screen that are superimposed in a three-dimensional reality.. Its creators assure that it is augmented reality applied to tourism.

Operation is simple. The City Council has arranged 100 tablets that can be rented at the Tourist Office for a price of 14 euros for a visit of approximately two hours. First, The bag that Imayana carries is placed around the neck with the screen horizontally at the level of the abdomen. The interface is educational and easy to use, since if the user places the tablet in an incorrect position, the voice of one of the characters quickly reminds you how to position yourself. Sliding your finger across the screen, The device transports you to the vision of the landscape or the building as it was found centuries ago. Another feature offers the ability to virtually enter and walk through historic buildings.

“The machine has us trapped”, said some of the first tourists who have tried the tablet. “It is a mix between GPS, video, history and technology”, they added. According to what they say, the animations have good quality, They respond perfectly to historical reality and the passages they recreate are full of humor.