The 3D Explosion

In recent years, 3D image production has become much more accessible. Techniques like photogrammetry in which an object is photographed from many different angles so it can then be reproduced in 3D, used to require complex and costly equipment. Today, you can create a 3D model of an object or even an entire scene using nothing but your smartphone.

Similarly, the diffusion of 3D models took a giant leap forward with the arrival of the WebGL standard, which makes it possible to display 3D images in any web browser. This is where Sketchfab comes into play. In only four years’ time, the platform has become the leader in publishing and sharing 3D models, with close to a million models shared by its members.

Sketchfab and GuidiGO: a Natural Synergy

Though Sketchfab initially appealed to designers wishing to share their creations, their community has expanded over the years to include a variety of museums. Over 350 museums and cultural sites all over the world are now using Sketchfab, including the famous British Museum, and the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Brussels – who published no less than 355 models alone. Sketchfab now boasts a collection that would be the envy of a number of institutions the world over.

It soon became obvious that Sketchfab and GuidiGO, the leading storytelling platform with its 5,000 commented cultural sites and works, would be a perfect match. It is no surprise, then, that the 3D works on Sketchfab now interface with GuidiGO’s tour-creating tools.

GuidiGO now natively supports Sketchfab 3D embeds and lets you add 3D and VR illustrations to your stories.

Tremendous potential for GuidiGO users

This incredible functionality is available to anyone who creates a tour on GuidiGO. It is especially useful when accessing tours remotely, or when planning a visit. When it is impossible to make a trip to a cultural site in person, you can still enjoy the works on display and the cultural space itself.

For a few months now, the new GuidiGO web app has featured street views and 360° panoramas,” explains Corine Barbazanges, Head of Marketing at GuidiGO. “But 3D models open the way to even more possibilities. Our users are going to be able to create amazing tours based around a theme, rather than on the exploration of one specific site. They can even create their ideal collection by bringing together works from different museums with absolutely no geographic constraints.

This is the idea behind the 3D Imaginary Tour created by GuidiGO as a demo. In this tour, you will hear the story of the Nefertiti bust and the Roman Colosseum. As you listen, you can look at every detail and rotate the objects to see them from multiple angles. You can also learn about Protoceratops, a dinosaur that you can spin around in 3D as it walks across your screen.

Now, museums can offer virtual tours to anyone unable to visit in person—particularly schools with limited means. A teacher could also create a tour based on a thematic selection of works and then use it as part of their curriculum—they could even invite students to create their own tours as a class project. Art lovers might also create a gallery of their favorite works and enrich them with personal commentary.

Of course, a virtual tour can never replace an on-site visit. As GuidiGO CEO David Lerman is well aware:

There is nothing like the feeling you get from real contact with a work or space. But the fact is, no one has the means to visit every museum in the world. That’s why art books and documentaries exist. So why not have virtual tours as well? Augmented with Sketchfab resources, the GuidiGO web app makes it possible to view works in 3D and in great detail; it also enriches the experience with audio commentary and visual references. In my opinion, this is one of the best remote visitor experiences ever created so far.

The experience is sure to appeal to museums and culture lovers; especially since opening an account is free on both Sketchfab and GuidiGO.

What are you waiting for?

Would you like to create a tour of ancient Egyptian artifacts, animal sculptures throughout the ages, or the collections at the British Museum? It couldn’t be more simple.

Start by creating your tour in GuidiGO Studio. Decide which stops you want to add, then enrich them with text, audio and video content. If you’d like to add 3D content to a stop in your tour, simply copy the URL of the model from Sketchfab then paste it in your stop, in GuidiGO Studio:

Finally, publish your tour in just one click. A few minutes later, it will be accessible from any web browser.

Note: Sketchfab 3D models are not yet available in the GuidiGO mobile apps.

To make this stunning experience possible, the team at the Fine Arts Museums selected the new version of GuidiGO Studio that now integrates beacons/ Bluetooth LE technology and Augmented Reality effects. The Fine Arts Museums also partnered with Antenna International^TM who produced the content using the GuidiGO platform.

Visitors can now walk around the gallery and immerse themselves into Keith Haring’s universe through fascinating historical content about his life and work. When approaching a particular artwork, contextual audio and visual content appears automatically on Glass. Augmented reality effects help to deepen the visitor’s understanding of the artwork by zoning in on hidden details not easily visible or noticeable to the eye.

David Lerman, CEO of GuidiGO, explained: “Wearing Glass as you visit the gallery is like embarking on a journey through time, with visual archives, contextual music and testimonials. Within minutes, visitors completely forget they are even wearing Glass, as the screen subtly turns on only when needed, revealing stories within artwork.”

Colin B. Bailey, Director of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, said: “As an institution located in a cradle of technological innovation, the Fine Arts Museums are pleased to participate in an initiative that provides models for a deeper engagement with the collections and exhibitions under our care. We’re excited to incorporate this pilot multimedia tour into our broader educational mission.”

David Falter, President and CEO of Antenna International said: “GuidiGO’s platform was easy and flexible to work with and in combination with our content, created this amazing Glass experience. We see great potential for producing stunning immersive tours in museums”.

To try it out, visitors need to have access to Glass and to activate the GuidiGO Glassware. They can then get the tour “Keith Haring: The Political Line” by registering here.

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Exhibition Keith Haring: The Political Line, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, December 2nd – February 16th.

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Download the Press Kit

Glass Explorers, you can experience the new exhibition Keith Haring: The Political Line through Glass at the de Young Museum December 2nd through February 16th. GuidiGO has created a phenomenal tour featuring 19 pieces from the exhibition, all with additional content by Antenna International^TM delivered through Glass.

Head to Golden Gate Park!

See full details below

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDIGO HARING TOUR
Sign up now to access instructions and to download the tour. The latest OS is required for the app to run smoothly. We also recommend bringing a mono earbud to enjoy the audio content.

EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Location and museum hours
Please note that the exhibition contains certain artworks that are mature in nature; some artwork contains violent, sexual, and/or political content. http://deyoung.famsf.org/haring

Artwork with additional content will be marked with a Glass tag

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE
#PoliticalHaring @deyoungmuseum #throughglass @GuidiGO_app

PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE TOUR
After your visit, the de Young will email a link to their survey. We kindly ask that you take a few minutes to provide feedback. Your thoughts will help us improve the GuidiGO experience on Glass. The de Young will only use your email once for this purpose.