Launched to the public in 2013 as the result of a joint venture between the BBC and Sega, the Orbi project was a ground-breaking initiative that combined technology, enter­tainment and natural history.
The aim was to offer visitors an immersive and inter­active way to experience nature in a completely new way. All 200 systems in the theme parks in Tokyo, Osaka and Dubai were powered by just one platform: the vir2cloud.

What is Orbi?

Orbi is a combi­nation of natural history museum, cinema experience and inter­active enter­tainment. It uses state-of-the-art technologies to present the beauty and fasci­nation of natural history in a way that is tangible and emotional for visitors.

Orbi uses state-of-the-art visual and acoustic technologies such as 4D projec­tions, giant panoramic screens, olfactory technology and sensor technology. This gives visitors the feeling that they are actually immersed in the natural environment on display.

Visitors can move around specially designed rooms, each presenting different aspects of natural history and ecosystems. For example, certain rooms simulate the atmos­phere of a tropical rainforest or the icy cold of the Arctic. This creates a holistic experience.

The project aims not only to entertain visitors, but also to raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of nature. Inter­active displays and learning stations ensure that visitors are not only amazed, but also gain new knowledge.

If possible, all of this should be operated with just one platform. vir2store was the perfect solution. The BBC supplied high-quality material from its nature film library. Meanwhile, Sega used its expertise in technology and inter­active enter­tainment to bring the content to life.

Inter­active museum – powered by vir2cloud

By integrating the vir2cloud^® platform, the Orbi project has gained a techno­logical basis that enables the control and management of all highly complex and multi-sensory attrac­tions. This use of vir2cloud^® demon­strates how powerful the platform is. Especially when it comes to creating experi­ences with numerous inter­active and synchro­nized elements.

The role of vir2store in the Orbi project:

• Central control and management:
  vir2store takes over the coordi­nation of all content on the screens and projection surfaces. From high-resolution nature films to inter­active displays, all media content is provided via the platform. The platform not only manages audio­visual content, but also controls inter­active elements, including touch­screens and sensor-based installations.
• Integration of multi-sensory technology:
  In addition to the cinematic content, vir2store also controls light, temper­ature, wind and smell effects that make the experience multi-sensory and impressive for visitors. The precision and synchro­nization of these effects with the visual and acoustic elements are decisive for the quality of the attractions.
• Experience in the field of inter­active museums:
  vir2store was able to draw on its extensive experience in controlling media in inter­active museums and worlds of experience. Never­theless, Orbi repre­sented a new dimension, as the variety and complexity of the inter­ac­tions were unique.

Uniqueness and signif­i­cance of the project:

The interplay of highly developed media technology, multi­sensory elements and inter­active instal­la­tions in Orbi was unique until then.
Thanks to its versa­tility and stability, vir2store was able to play a decisive role in turning the devel­opers’ vision into reality.

With the Orbi project, vir2store has shown how technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and multi-sensory environ­ments can be used to combine education and enter­tainment. The vir2cloud^® was once again a pioneer in the way museums and educa­tional insti­tu­tions can present natural history. The result is a new model for edutainment.

Conclusion

The Orbi project was a milestone in the devel­opment of immersive nature experi­ences. vir2store proved that collab­o­ration between a leading media company like the BBC and a technology and enter­tainment expert like Sega can deliver multi­media break­throughs that are both enter­taining and educa­tional. The vir2cloud^® set a new standard for commu­ni­cating knowledge about our world.

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