Walk Among Oceanic Pioneers and Frolic with Polar Bears and Penguins at Aquarium of the Bay
New exhibits premiere at Aquarium of the Bay
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This month Aquarium on the Bay at PIER 39 launches three new exhibitions. August 4th, they installed a sculptural series of Ocean Pioneers on loan from Google and DOER (Deep Ocean Exploration Research). Monday August 14th, the aquarium will open exciting new AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) interactive attractions.
Ocean Pioneers Arrive
The Ocean Pioneers, exhibit was commissioned by Artist Viktor from Google for their Google Ocean Project. Each of the 11 Busts weighs in excess of 1,500 lbs and portrays a researcher whose expertise has contributed to the greater understanding of our Oceans. Among those pioneers are: Carl Brashear - U.S. Navy Diver, Lloyd Bridges - Bridge to the Oceans, Jacques-Yves Cousteau - Technician, Sylvia Earle - Her Deepness, and many others. "We are honored to be hosting the Ocean Pioneers at the aquarium. These impressive works of art will help us better connect our conservation message with aquarium guests...," noted George Jacob, President and CEO of bay.org, dba Bay Ecotarium.
Augmented Reality Reaches San Francisco
The Augmented Reality attraction, launching Monday August 14th and sponsored by Big Bus Tours, will be shown in the Farallon Room and will allow kids and adults alike to get up close and personal with two different shows: The Ocean Adventure and The Arctic Explorer. The interactive films, developed by London based, INDE BroadcastAR, are projected onto a 20 ft screen above guests as they reach out and seemingly touch the projected images of Whales, Dolphins, Walrus, Polar Bears, Penguins and Seals. High resolution images of guests interacting with the AR will also be available for sale from Snapshare.
Ocean Adventure: https://vimeo.com/166933839
Arctic Adventure: https://vimeo.com/125507237
Dive with Whales in Virtual Reality
The Virtual Reality Micro Theater (VRMicrotheaters) was developed specifically for museums, zoos, planetariums, and aquariums by tech veteran Andrew Bleiman and LumiereVR co-founder Travis Wu. They tackled the problems of inferior technology when trying to broadcast VR to large audiences, overheating headsets, and short battery life. Custom hardware and software allows synchronous play on headsets allowing viewers a shared experience. The first VR film experience at Aquarium of the Bay was created by veteran filmmaker, Sandy Smolan and best-selling author James Nestor, who in 2016 shot the award winning, 'The Click Effect' about the secret language of whales and dolphins. Released in 2016, by the New York Times, 'Click Effect', has become one of the most successful VR experiences to date. 'Click Effect' takes you on a free-dive down to 100 feet in the depths of the ocean to swim with dolphins, pilot whales, and giant sperm whales. In 2016, it was featured at the Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, among others, and won the prestigious Lumiere Award for Best VR Documentary.
About Aquarium of the Bay
Aquarium of the Bay is part of bay.org dba Bay Ecotarium, a not-for-profit nature center with a mission to protect, restore, and inspire conservation of San Francisco Bay and its watershed, from the Sierra to the sea. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), designated as a Smithsonian Affiliate, and certified as a Green Business by the city of San Francisco. Located on PIER 39 known for the Sea Lions, Aquarium of the Bay is the city's only waterfront aquarium. Dedicated to diverse marine life and ecosystems of the Bay, it is home to more than 23,000 local animal species. Visit aquariumofthebay.org
SOURCE Aquarium on the Bay
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