Introduction:

In a rapidly changing world, it's easy for history to fade into obscurity. The Archivist Detectives present a groundbreaking solution to this challenge - an innovative mobile application that revitalizes forgotten archives, engages communities, and unveils the captivating stories that lie dormant within historical records.

The Problem:

Many valuable archival records languish in obscurity, disconnected from the present and the people who could appreciate them. Despite having access to an extensive repository of historical images within the ACT Memory, these records are largely overlooked. The data remains inaccessible, uninspiring, and fails to capture the attention of individuals who would cherish a connection to their region's history.

Our Solution:

The Archivist Detectives propose a revolutionary mobile application that bridges the gap between forgotten archives and modern engagement. Our solution is a user-friendly app designed to encourage exploration, interaction, and education. By transforming the process of accessing historical data into an immersive experience, we aim to make history come alive for students, community members, and tourists.

Benefits and Target Audience:

Our innovative app is tailored to cater to a diverse audience:

• Tourists: Enhance their understanding of the region's cultural and historical significance.
• Locals: Forge a stronger connection to their surroundings and heritage.
• Students: Foster a deeper appreciation for history through interactive learning.

App Features and Workflow:

• Geographical Mapping: Users can pinpoint their location or choose a location on the map.
• Historical Scavenger Hunt: Users embark on a captivating scavenger hunt through Ngunnawal country, uncovering historical markers.
• Immersive Experience: Scanning QR codes at these markers triggers an immersive journey into the past. Users view historical images and hear audio descriptions while immersed in era-specific music.
• User-Generated Content: Users can contribute by recording and uploading their own stories related to the historical marker.
• Accessibility: The app ensures inclusivity, offering audio descriptions for the visually impaired and transcriptions for the hearing impaired.
• Gamification: Users progress from novice to expert levels, earning experience points that unlock exclusive discounts at local businesses.

App Design:

Differentiation:

In recent years, the market has been flooded by mobile phone applications like Pokemon Go, making it an extremely competitive environment in which to launch an app. Our app is unique in its approach by combining a local historical scavenger hunt with a multi-modal experience. To do this and create a fully immersive experience, we will use technology such as geographical markers linked to images, text-to-speech readers, music, and the opportunity for the local users to engage with the historical dataset of ACT Memory. Furthermore, they can add their own significant stories by attaching audio files to historical images to which they are scanned and checked against a profanity filter and then connected.

As mentioned previously, there are accessibility options for students, locals and tourists with hearing or vision impairment. By having an audio description (AD) attached to each image, the important visual elements of the archival data will be narrated as music from the era is played in the background, allowing users with a vision impairment to engage with the data. Similarly, audio content which provides historical context of the image will be captioned for users with a hearing impairment.

Another differentiating function of the Archival Detective app is to incentivise participation. As users engage with the historical data, they will gather points linked to levels of achievement: novice, intermediate and expert. Once they have achieved certain levels of mastery, the app will use geolocation to unlock rewards from community partners within the users’ vicinity. It is predicted that industry partners will have increased foot traffic by engaging in this relationship with the ACT Government.

Finally, our app is distinctive in its approach to socio-economic equity. As the cost of living rises, many people in our community are looking for cost-effective ways to entertain their families, getting outside on country, and participate in their region. Our app achieves that in an educative way by ensuring that the existing infrastructure - our beautiful walking paths - continues to be built upon through this project.

Societal Impact:

• Cultural Value: Preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Ngunnawal country, honouring the First Nations’ people.
• Historical Value: Revive forgotten stories and ensure they are accessible to current and future generations.
• Environmental Engagement: Encourage individuals to explore their surroundings and connect with nature.

Conclusion:

The Archivist Detective app rejuvenates the past, offering an engaging and educational experience that connects people with history. By exploring forgotten archives in an innovative and immersive manner, we ensure that our history remains vibrant, relevant, and accessible for generations to come.