Hello I/O, a creator of high-tech immersive spaces, has given more details on its ‘phygital’ park creation, one of the latest activity centre formats to enter the industry.
The firm has been developing immersive spaces and interactive attractions for over a decade and has used its knowledge to create Hello Parks, a new play concept for families with children.
“We have witnessed extensive changes in the entertainment industry with the gradual introduction of new technologies,” says a company representative. “We’re fully aware of how quickly the allure of 5D cinemas and VR clubs faded, yet activity parks remain as popular as ever. At the same time, the basic user experience of activity park visitors has markedly evolved. Guests expect both familiar games and advanced new features.”
Utilising its experience in user engagement and proprietary innovations, Hello I/O has established Hello Park, a new park format combining modern technologies with familiar physical activities.
“To put it simply, Hello Park includes zones familiar to traditional activity parks and enhances them through interactive projects and other technologies to make the user experience truly unique and memorable, at the same time encouraging repeat visits. There’s always something new to see and experience at Hello Park,” adds the firm.
Personalised activities
At its core, the Hello Park concept comprises more than thirty attractions, including interactive projections, trampolines, climbing walls, vertical labyrinths, and sports games. A creative activity zone will inspire families through music, construction sets, craft tables, and state-of-the-art scanners that help bring drawings to life within projections, and Hello I/O has ensured that its fun attractions are catering for toddlers too.
All activities are fully immersive through the use of projection technologies, touch mechanics, and movement sensors, with all elements of the park including slides, climbing walls, and activity tables, being included in the interactive game space.
For instance, what could be a regular trampoline zone has been transformed into an immersive quest with guests playing out the role of a ninja jumping among rooftops or a cosmonaut venturing into a meteor shower. Guests’ digital avatars will adopt the appropriate apparel and replicate the movements of those playing along.
Hello Parks can currently be constructed on a flexible range of site sizes, up to 2,500 square metres. While still making use of traditional attractions, the concept primarily engages with guests through the use of unique content. This means that operators can transform the entire park in just one click, easily switching between themes such as Deep Ocean, Space Frontier, the day after tomorrow, Animal Kingdom and more, without having to invest in costly design updates.
Careful use of lighting, with alternative bright and dark zones, also helps transform the park into a unified multimedia activity space, promoting the best features of both traditional activity parks and more high-tech attractions.
The tech behind Hello Park
Unlike VR, phygital technologies do not require complex equipment to run effectively and engage with the user. All activities are powered by the same engines that help operate the computer and mobile games, while the interactive space is created by projections and sensors. As the equipment is hidden away, it does not interfere with the user experience or hinder visitor traffic.
Modern technologies are used to develop and implement special features, including digital avatars which are being introduced to Hello Parks this year. Guests can use RFID bracelets and photobooths at the park entrance to create their very own avatars, which are fully customizable. This avatar will then follow the visitor around the park and will help during activities.
During their visits, guests collect “energy” that can be exchanged for a souvenir or for a Hello Café dessert, or spent on colourful visual shows. This helps the operator to build engagement and loyalty.
The Hello Park development team is also constantly working to enhance and introduce new products and content for the franchise. For instance, for Halloween, new themed content was included in several games, and special content is also planned for the New Year. This keeps the experience fresh and encourages visitors to come back again and again.
The concept, which appeals to both local residents and tourists, will soon be expanded to locations including the US, KSA, Brazil, Turkey, Slovenia and Qatar. Most recently, a branch has opened in Dubai in the UAE, and the Hello Park team welcomes visitors to experience the phygital park for themselves.
