In collaboration with Gratkorn-based company NXP, the Silicon Alps Cluster, and the online tourism marketing agency crosseye—working together with xamoom—an adventurous quiz app was created.
Exciting quiz questions guide visitors through the zoo and make the outing even more enjoyable. At 15 selected enclosures, NFC chips are clearly visible on the enclosure signs. When a visitor scans the chip with their smartphone, a question appears with three possible answers. “The app works using near-field communication (NFC). We developed this technology in collaboration with Sony, and it has become an integral part of our lives. NFC chips are also used, for example, in ATM cards for contactless payments,” explains NXP Managing Director Markus Stäblein.
Puzzle Rally with Added Value
“But it’s more than just a quiz,” says crosseye CEO Evelyn Götz, adding: “The app takes guests on a journey across all continents and not only provides interesting facts about the animals but also offers all the practical information needed for a successful family day out or school field trip.” The app is also linked to the online ticket shop.
The Silicon Alps Cluster also supported the process. Managing Director David Tatschl explains: “In joint creative workshops with experts from Graz University of Technology, we came up with ‘out-of-the-box’ ideas that were incorporated into the app.”
“This is a particularly wonderful example of how Styria brings together tourism, business, and science. It adds tremendous value to Tierwelt Herberstein and is a project that can serve as a model for other zoos and tourist attractions,” says Provincial Councilor Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, expressing her delight with the final product. A new, highly interactive educational program is guaranteed.
The app was designed primarily for schools and educational institutions, but it is available to all zoo visitors and is suitable for all age groups.
Starting March 18, 2021, the app will be available for download under the name TIERISCH COOL. You can get a sneak peek on Sunday, March 14, in the ORF documentary “Erlebnis Österreich,” titled “Löwenstarkes Apfelland – Sommerfrische in der Oststeiermark.”
