Features and Technology

In this subpage, further information about the features that RELIVE IT offers is shown, as well as how some of these were prototyped and tested. This prototyping and testing was to make sure that these add value to the concept and that they fit in the context.

The RELIVE IT tour

When booking the RELIVE IT tour you will have an immersive tour around a city such as Pompeii for half a day. You can do this with a group of maximum six friends, familymembers etc. The tour will be in the Ford Tourneo with a local guide telling a story which is enriched with some features that the van offers.

Storytelling

RELIVE IT is unlike the tours we are used to, based on a story that comes alive thanks to the features that the van offers. Thanks to the cutting-edge technology that the Ford Tourneo is equipped with it is possible to get triggered by and immersed into an alternative reality to which nowadays there's no access to or doesn't exist anymore.

Local Guide

The guide is key in RELIVE IT tour since being a local guide will share the most important places, local tips and interesting information. The guide will adapt to the group, the vibe, their preferences and therefore personalise the tour.

Interactive storytelling

The guide will base the experience on an interactive story. This way, passengers, together, can create their own unique experience by choosing which path to follow and change the story-line. From time to time, the guide will stop the story with multiple directions to choose from. So every experience is unique, because it will follow a different set of stories.

This feature was tested and the participants had fun and it started conversations. It was very liked when the view through the window was part of the story, combining reality and fiction.

AR window which corresponds with the guide's story

The story comes alive by having the AR window demonstrating what the guide tells. This let you immerse in the story. The passenger will be surprised by seeing the present being transformed into the past.

This was tested by using the Imageen app as can be seen in the video below.

The AR window can be created by adding a half transparant display (more information at the inspiration & vision page) to the inside of the van against the glass of the van. However we expect that by 2030 it can be integrated with each other.

Immersive Experience

Explore places via the AR windows

In between the stories there are moments in which the guide will not tell stories the passengers can explore themselves how it was in the past via their AR windows. For example, by entering places like devastated houses of Pompeii. This feature personalises the experience by giving the passengers freedom on what to explore. The van will stop at such locations that it often has an interesting view to explore on only one side of the bus, to encourage passengers to look at the same side, explore together and discuss how to continue. This will increase the social bonding by creating a shared experience.

This interactive prototype was created in Real Engine.

Several tests were done to explore the value of this feature. One of these tests can be seen in the video below, which illustrates the experience. Participants really enjoyed being able to walk around and explore how the interior of the house looked like (the fire torchs, the bed, looking through their windows...). It was also enjoyable for them to explore how to interact with the AR window, how to go straight, backwards...

Switch from present to past

Giving the freedom to the passengers to interact whit the AR windows by being able choose to switch from present to past view by moving a slider under their window to see how it used to look like in the past.

We tested this using the Imageen app and projecting it on the wall, as it can be seen in the next video. It was liked to be able to compare the views, seeing how it changed over time. On the same way, being able to see citizens moving around, their clothes, real people in that alternative reality, was also enjoyed.

Triggering senses with light, sound and movement effects

Triggers more senses to let passengers even more immerse in the events of the story.The chair reacts to the story by vibrating or temperature differences. Also light and sound effects are included which react to events in the story.

There was a test conducted with vibration motors placed on a seat, to explore the effect of feeling what you see. A door was closed and at that time the vibration motors were activated, to simulate feeling the door closing. This test is shown in the video below. Besides the popularity of moving seats during a 4DX cinema experience also proves the added value.

Effect

Passengers want to share what they found with other passengers or want to discuss things they experience or what to do next. This will stimulate conversations and social bonding, which makes the experience even more memorable!

Want to know more?

It is expected that in the future, new technologies will evolve and make these features work in a better way. We based the features on existing technology, getting inspired about how companies are doing similar things today, this information can be found under the next link: