Adabisc and Tekt Industries create Digital Companion for “The World’s First City in Space”

Juniverse, a new themepark in Doha, Qatar features a state-of-the-art Digital Companion to guide children through its futuristic landscape.

Juniverse, the latest attraction at Doha Festival City, Qatar, is a revolutionary themepark designed by children, for children. Set in a futuristic city in outerspace, Juniverse’s rides and activities seamlessly integrate education with fun, providing children with opportunities to explore and inhabit the “careers of tomorrow”, such as doctor, engineer and fashion designer.

Juniverse not only has rides, but also its own governing system and Digital Companion to guide and entertain the children who visit. The design of the Companion draws from smart phones and smart watches, brought together in a rugged integrated product flexible enough to comfortably fit children aged 6 to 14. Sitting snuggly parallel on the child’s wrist, it is highly interactive though also communicates simply and clearly, featuring multiple LEDs and dual vibration motors, and most excitingly a camera mounted on the top of the phone, which children can point at the exhibitions.

When using the Companion, children can access their profile information, as well as Quests.

Logistically, the Digital Companions and associated RFID readers play a crucial role in children’s movement through the park. Scanning the Companions allows both entry and exit from the entertainment area, and within the park the Companion allows children to enter attractions, or book entry for later if it is currently full. They are also given information about each attraction when they scan their Companion on its RFID reader.

The Digital Companion is a based on a modified android phone featuring an 8MP camera, dual vibration motors, a waterproof speaker, a 280mAh battery, and a three-axis accelerometer and gyroscope. It has LEDs on the sides and top, and pinhole Power and Update buttons on the rear (to prevent accidental activation). It features NFC technology which allows it to easily communicate with the RFID readers throughout the park.

The RFID readers are brightly lit, eye-catching devices found throughout the park. Wall-mounted or free-standing, all readers share a hexagonal shape and bright blue light. The speakers connect to the central computing system using wifi, Ethernet and USB. They have both internal and external speakers, and make a chirping sound and change colour when activated. They have been designed and mounted to be ergonomic for children ranging from 6 to 14 years old, including those who use wheelchairs.

Tekt Industries have also designed and created accompanying charging docks for the Companions, which seat 25 devices each.

Tekt Industries are honoured to have been able to contribute to the first city in space, and hope that children worldwide will be able to visit it!

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Environment concept renders: Emad Ghaly. Juniverse was developed by Adabisc and Trimoo at Doha Festival City, Qatar.