What to see, what to do, and how to experience a small city woven through with nature, culture, and a railway heritage that saturates every turn.
 Most people are familiar with AR technology through the popularity of Pokémon Go. With the Engage app’s St. Thomas adventure, AR technology is being used to learn about our own community. Users can walk to a particular location and use the app to scan the area, which will initiate the AR attraction. The attractions range from themed minigames to short history features, covering themes like the region’s railway history, mural artwork, and the veteran’s memorial. The AR adventures are a great solo or small-group outdoor activity, meaning they’re possible to enjoy even with Covid-19 restrictions. The app is free to download and is suitable for all ages, although young children will need adult guidance. All of the attractions are within a 15-minute walk of each other, with the closest being only a few minutes apart. The nature of the Engage AR will get people out walking in their communities and paying attention to parts of their city they might ordinarily walk by. AR also allows people to get up close with things that can’t be displayed in a conventional museum exhibit—like the steam and electric trains in the train attraction, or the statue in the Willowsheen mural attraction.  EXAR Studios is a London, ON-based entertainment technology company dedicated to improving cities and communities. Engage Art is an augmented reality app showcasing local arts and culture through sustainable, smart tourism. Daniel Kharlas, COO of EXAR Studios said, “The cutting edge augmented reality technology brings these vital stories to the people of St. Thomas in a way that is accessible and entertaining for the whole family. Whether you want to make a day out of it or just try one attraction while you’re out walking your dog, the beautiful, dynamic AR makes the perfect activity for summer break and beyond.” Head over to www.engage.art to download the free app and www.engage.art/st-thomas! Watch the video to learn more: https://vimeo.com/560084195
St. Thomas SpotsThe Magical Garden Near the spectacular, colourful mural on the side of the St. Thomas Public library, users can ‘tend’ a virtual garden as an extension of the artwork in front of them. Trains of the Railway City By the train tracks in front of the Railway City Tourism train station on Talbot Street, users can get up close and personal with a life-sized steam locomotive in AR. Modelled after a train on display at the Elgin County Railway Museum, users learn about St. Thomas’ rail history, as well as the future of rail transportation. Willowsheen Worlds Bringing the awe-inspiring Willowsheen mural to life in the alleyway just past the intersection of Moore and Talbot streets, users are able to walk through a portal and interact with a ball of energy to activate an extension of the mural. St. Thomas Remembers At the Veteran’s Memorial, amid a field of AR poppies, users can learn more about the local men and women who served in WWI and WWII by selecting their image to hear their letters read aloud. Slapshot! To the west of the Joe Thornton Community Centre and Arena, users can celebrate our country’s national sport by playing an AR hockey minigame.
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