One of our latest experiments at Open Culture Tech involved musician and DJ Sophie Jurrjens, who’s known for her audio walking tours, called Off-Track. Her app offers users an experience where they navigate through nature reserves while listening to a soundscape of electronic music layered with natural ambient sounds through their headphones. For her newest tour, set in the Vliegerbos in Amsterdam, we teamed up with Sophie to see how Augmented Reality (AR) could elevate the experience by adding a visual layer.
Using our open-source AR tool, specifically designed to simplify the creation of AR content, participants could instantly access the AR visuals on their phones by scanning a QR code – no app downloads necessary. Sophie developed a 30-minute audio tour, enhanced by three stops (QR-code posters) along the route. These triggers revealed vibrant digital birds, butterflies, and dragonflies that appeared to flutter through the forest. The walk culminated at MurMur, a listening club where Sophie DJ-ed a set, while a massive, floating pink moon – visible only through AR – hovered overhead, blending the digital with the real.
During the project, Sophie was introduced to the AR tool and quickly got hands-on with building her own AR experience. While the experiment successfully added depth to her work and proved the tool’s ease of use, Sophie admitted that she felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities. She noted that clearer examples, like tutorials on how to animate AR objects, would have helped streamline the creative process. We’re incorporating this feedback as we continue to refine the tool for future projects. As immersive technology evolves, Sophie’s project demonstrates how AR can blend natural environments with digital elements, creating a layered experience that goes beyond the typical music experience.