Aberdeen buses get augmented reality technology

First Aberdeen have announced the AR move. Picture: Geograph/ Bill Harrison (http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/15400) [CC]

BUS passengers in Aberdeen are being given free access to hi-tech entertainment and information on the backs of their bus seats, in what is claimed to be a world first for the Granite City.

The city’s main bus company, First Aberdeen, has announced that the initiative has been introduced on 35 First Aberdeen buses in the city which already have free WiFi access for customers.

Passengers with smartphones and tablets will now be able to use augmented reality technology to simply scan their seat backs to open a range interactive videos showing interviews with staff and information about services, as well as allowing passenger to surf the internet.

Duncan Cameron, First Aberdeen’s director and general manager, said: “Our new augmented reality channel brings our seat backs to life and I hope makes bus travel that little bit more interesting and enjoyable.”

He added: “We believe we are the first transport company in the world to use this kind of technology on the backs of our seats and its helping us attract new customers on to our buses.”