A new smartphone Durham walking guide uses the latest technology to make heritage fun.
The ExplorAR Durham Cityguide web app – the first ever smartphone walking tour of Durham – uses 3D models, 360 images, interactive pictures, quizzes and GPS to take users around the key locations of Durham city. You can find it here: Durham walking tour app.
It also runs entirely in the browser, meaning no download is needed and that it will work on any smartphone, desktop, tablet or laptop, not just high-end mobile devices.
The ExplorAR Durham walking tour has been created by Durham-based digital company ExplorAR.co.uk, which specialises in creating apps and web content such as 360 virtual tours, 3D models and touchscreen content, with an emphasis on visitor attractions and heritage.
ExplorAR also produces a Durham events guide.
Richard Fletcher from ExplorAR said: “The walking tour not only gives tourists a guide to our city’s key locations, but it also offers something new to locals who are already familiar with Durham’s sights. We hope it can turn a walk around the city into a free day of family fun.
“Whether they’re spinning a 360 image to learn about the buildings on Palace Green or hunting for information on a plaque to answer a quiz question, it shows off our fantastic city in a totally new light and gives people another reason to visit. But lots of the content can also be enjoyed even if users aren’t in Durham city centre, which will help to promote Durham and its heritage across the world.”
Most of the tour’s content can be accessed remotely, making it suitable for people thinking of visiting Durham such as prospective students and tourists, or people who are unable to get to the city centre; the only feature that requires users to be on-site to unlock it is the quiz.
The quiz questions have been designed to offer something for everyone; some of the questions simply involve hunting for an item, but others involve a few tricky calculations so all members of the family can get involved.
Richard said: “The questions are only revealed once you check into each location, so we can’t give away too much, but here’s a clue: you might want to brush up on your Roman numerals before visiting Palace Green!”
ExplorAR will continue adding new content to the walking tour over the coming months.
They will also be adding new tour locations across County Durham and beyond.
You can access the tour at explorar.co.uk/walks. If you have feedback, questions or simply want to know more, you can contact ExplorAR at hello@explorar.co.uk