The leaders of three award-winning projects promoting the use of technology in tourism and heritage have returned to Scotland inspired and ready for the task ahead from a visit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The Boston trip to MIT’s Media Lab was an integral part of the £120,000 challenge fund prize which drew more than 50 entries to a competition organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Aim-HI and Fusion last year.
The visit allowed the successful entrants to meet and discuss their projects with some of the world’s leading thinkers and experts on digital technology, media and communications.
The winners, Seabridge Consultants in Forres, Visual Arts Sutherland (VASu) and THETA at Galson Estate, Lewis, were accompanied by Bill Taylor, HIE's heritage manager, and Dr. Stefan Agamanolis, chief executive of Distance Lab.
On their return home, Bill Taylor was enthusiastic about the visit and how it had helped progress the three projects.
“We went to Boston with what we thought were three fairly different projects only to find that, really, there are strong connections between them,” he said.
“Through their meetings, the project leaders were pleased to learn that their thinking was on the right track and represented up to date thinking. The challenge fund had come to the conclusion that these were three good projects for the Highlands and Islands, but at MIT we heard that they are pretty good ideas for rural projects globally.”
He added that the project leaders had received a big lift from the visit and would now be commencing the hard work of turning their ideas into reality. Between now and November when the projects had to be completed, there would be regular contact with the projects by HIE and Distance Lab to assist them in the process.
Seabridge Consultants intend to use the money to develop the story of Macbeth's life in Moray through a format that can be read from a variety of different mobile devices. It is hoped this digital blend of drama and factual information, developed with partners including Zolk Ltd and the Elgin Museum, will encourage visitors to stay longer in the area and explore a number of sites around Moray.
Visual Arts Sutherland (VASu) impressed judges with their proposal to create a virtual studio journey, complete with gallery and education facility. VASu represents over 40 artists and craftspeople in Sutherland and they plan to create a website, Vasutrail.com, which will display the area's stunning geography and allow people to enter different artists' workspaces. It will also accommodate a rotating exhibition of art work for sale and feature the work of guest artists.
The third winner, THETA in the Outer Hebrides is an initiative promoted by the recent successful community purchase of the Galson Estate on Lewis. The new go-ahead landowners propose to combine a number of software applications that utilise text, audio and visual digital resources to present one, single web platform promoting the area's heritage and tourism attractions.
