Andy Van den Broeck is founder and CEO of RealityMatters, an immersive experiences studio. "Andy Van den Broeck is using immersive technology to challenge an institution most of us have accepted since childhood: the zoo. Not improve it. Reconsider it," said one person who nominated him.
RealityMatters' Zoo of the Future layers digital wildlife experiences on top of a physical zoo environment. The concept it being developed for licensing to zoos and venues across Europe and the US.
Instead of showcasing live animals, Zoo of the Future takes visitors through three life-sized habitats using projection mapping, virtual reality, augmented reality, spatial sound, light and environmental cues. Guests see penguins crossing an expansive frozen landscape and monkeys move through the jungle.
"Andy Van den Broeck has spent years working between emerging technology and practical deployment. With Zoo of the Future, those disciplines converge around an idea larger than the tools themselves," the nominator added.
"He is not using immersion to give us a better view of animals in captivity. He is demonstrating that captivity may no longer be necessary to create wonder, education and emotional connection.
"The zoo of the future is not defined by what technology adds. It is defined by the cage it removes."
