A GOUND-BREAKING new app that gives people across the world the chance to experience Scotland through their phone has been launched in a partnership with Google.
The innovative technology has been created in collaboration with the internet giant as part of the Scotland Is Now global campaign.
The app was led by Visit Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Universities Scotland.
The augmented reality (AR) app built with ARCore gives users across the globe the chance to experience the country’s rich landscapes and attractions through their mobile phones.
A 'Minecraft view' of V&A Dundee showing the app in action
Scotland is the first country to develop an app of this kind and it comes almost 20 years after the Edinburgh Festival Fringe worked with Orange on the first ever mobile phone app – a complete festival show guide – in 1999.
The Portal AR app has users travel through portals on their phone screens to visit different destinations across Scotland – spanning from riding the North Coast 500 on a motorbike to discovering food and drink culture through the heritage of our whisky distilleries.
As well as allowing users to virtually visit Scotland it also offers portals into how we live, work, invest and study throughout the country. Locals provide insight into what the country means to them by way of voiceovers while 360 degree videos and stills help users immerse themselves in Scottish culture.
Eva Kwiecinska of Visit Scotland said: “It is incredibly exciting to launch our first venture into the world of augmented reality and to be the first country to create an app of this kind.
The different stages of using the Portal AR app
“AR is an innovative way to let people from anywhere in the world experience Scotland from the palm of their hands and learn more about the country.
“Scotland is challenging new thinking, inviting new investment, creating new opportunities, supporting new industry and driving technology so it is fitting that we have produced an app that is at the cutting-edge and shows the world why Scotland Is Now.”
The app was made by Edinburgh-based creative marketing agency Whitespace in collaboration with Scotland Is Now partners over 10 weeks.
More than 100 million devices can currently download the app and Google are extending the number of devices that support AR apps while extra Portal AR app content is developed.
External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "The Portal AR app is a real innovation and will help promote the message at the heart of Scotland Is Now to a worldwide audience.
"We want to put Scotland at the top of everyone's list of places to live, work, visit, invest and study.
"Our country is recognised globally for its heritage, breath-taking scenery and warm welcome. But Scotland is so much more: a modern, pioneering, dynamic and progressive nation."
Morag Malloy, marketing manager Scottish Enterprise, said: "This new augmented reality app will allow people from around the world to experience Scotland virtually through their own personal handheld mobile device and will showcase what Scotland has to offer as a leading place to visit, work, live, study and invest."
Professor Andrea Nolan, convener of Universities Scotland and principal of Edinburgh Napier University, said: "Scotland is a visually stunning country and that's what users will get a sense of through the Scotland is Now AR app.
"We know it's one of the many reasons why students and staff from throughout the world want to come and study and build their lives here."
A video explaining the app and a download link are available on the Scotland Is Now website.
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