Courtesy of a significant donation announced Tuesday morning, Elgin county will soon be in fast forward mode in its efforts to connect the past to the future. The Elgin County Museum is the recipient of a $425,000 gift from the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell which will be used to fund a number of initiatives, the most ambitious of which will be an augmented reality app. Andrew Gunn, estate consultant, says development of the app will allow residents and tourists to engage and interact with area communities in futuristic fashion.
The app is being developed by EXAR Studios of London and will guide users on adventures that are essentially digital scavenger hunts. They will allow you to experience attractions simply by looking through the camera of your smart phone.
Gunn explains the app is an imaginative piece of the tourism puzzle.
Other projects that will benefit from the financial gift include the addition of murals and historical signs across Elgin county cycling trails, the establishment of a pair of one-year contract positions at the museum for digitization of archival collections and to generate content for the augmented reality app.
The donation will also allow for acquisition of artefacts for the museum in addition to conserving existing pieces and make possible the purchase of outdoor amenities to establish an outdoor learning environment for visiting students and community groups.
Elgin County Warden Dave Mennill noted, ” These funds will allow the county to embrace new digital methods of delivering our museum services and provide innovative ways for residents and visitors to engage with our unique rural heritage.”
