Akhil Hemanth
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Treasure City

AR Web App

Treasure City main image

Client

Urban Explorers, Art Enthusiasts, Cryptocurrency Adopters, and Local Businesses

Year

2023

Role

AR Developer and Blockchain Integration Specialist

Project Overview

Embark on an Urban Adventure with Treasure City: An Augmented Reality Game that leads you to discover hidden treasures within the city, allowing you to mint them onto the Ethereum blockchain. Delve into the city's rich history while uncovering digital art crafted by local artisans. Start your treasure hunt today!

The Challenge

Urban areas often struggle to engage residents and tourists in exploring local history and supporting local artists. Traditional city tours can be passive and fail to captivate younger, tech-savvy audiences. Additionally, there's a growing interest in blockchain technology and digital ownership, but limited practical applications that connect it to real-world experiences. The challenge lies in creating an engaging, interactive experience that encourages urban exploration, supports local artists, and introduces blockchain technology in an accessible, fun way.

The Solution

Treasure City addresses these challenges through an innovative blend of technologies and concepts: 1. Augmented Reality Exploration: Uses AR to overlay digital 'treasures' onto real-world locations, encouraging physical exploration of the city. 2. Blockchain Integration: Allows users to mint discovered digital art as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, providing true ownership of their finds. 3. Local Artist Showcase: Features digital art created by local artisans, supporting the local creative community. 4. Historical Context: Incorporates city history into the treasure hunt, educating users about their surroundings. 5. Gamification: Implements game elements like points, leaderboards, and achievements to enhance engagement. 6. Mobile Accessibility: Designed as a web app for easy access across various mobile devices. 7. Geolocation Services: Utilizes GPS to guide users to nearby treasures and track their progress. 8. Social Features: Allows users to share their discoveries and compete with friends. 9. Local Business Partnerships: Collaborates with local businesses to host special treasures, driving foot traffic. 10. Scalable Architecture: Built to easily expand to new cities and incorporate additional features. By combining AR technology with blockchain and local culture, Treasure City aims to create a unique, engaging way to explore urban environments while supporting local artists and businesses.

Treasure City mockup 1Treasure City mockup 2

Results

Treasure City has shown promising early results in its initial launch city. User engagement metrics indicate increased foot traffic to participating local businesses and historical sites. The app has facilitated the minting of digital artworks as NFTs, providing a new revenue stream for local artists. Early user feedback highlights the app's ability to make urban exploration more engaging and interactive. While long-term impact data is still being collected, initial surveys suggest increased awareness and appreciation of local history and art among users. The development team continues to refine the AR experience and expand partnerships with local businesses and artists based on user feedback and participation data.

Technologies Used

  • Ethereum
  • AR.js
  • Web3.js
  • React
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