The eternal challenge of ensuring that visitors are entertained, engaged and educated in a fun and interactive way is common to the industry.

We look at a couple of forward thinking attractions in the USA demonstrating how technology can help us rise to this challenge.

Dallas Zoo's mission is to be "an outstanding center of education, entertainment and wildlife conservation". As part of their education strategy they aim to address three key areas;

(i) engaging schools, families & the younger visitor population (ii) addressing feedback that visitors enjoy close up or behind the scenes interaction with animals & their keepers

(iii) provide tools & measurement to promote free-choice learning.

Their commitment to becoming a modern zoo in the digital age lead them to adopt a solution using some very smart new technology to deliver these outcomes via interactive video presentations. Keen not to disrupt the natural surroundings of the park with TV monitors they implemented a set of small hand held video devises called the GPS Ranger®. Suitable for small school groups, families or equally for individuals they go way beyond the traditional audio tour by providing high definition video, animation, map tools, interactive questions & learning exercises.

Cynthia Bennett, Ph.D., curator of conservation, education and science at the zoo said "Nothing can replace the personal nature of the zookeeper talks but this is the next best thing." Using this technology effectively the zoo can automatically deliver relevant messages in the same way your in-car navigation system does using global position system (GPS) technology.

Using GPS located trigger zones the video content is automatically played as the visitor moves around the zoo. Each video message & appropriate trigger zone is customized to the zoo's key experiences or opportunities. Information is then presented based on their location, but can also be manually recalled to watch a favourite segment again, or to see something they may not have passed.

This 'behind-the-scenes' element is a science lesson in itself that teachers have enjoyed sharing with students. The Zoo's 650,000 annual visitors all have the chance to get an extra special view into the life of their animals, the keepers, as well as a wealth of knowledge & information about the animals.

According to Dallas Zoo Executive Director Gregg Hudson, "It's like having a team of zookeepers taking you on a tour." The Zoo says that the solution compliments the range of keeper talks & tours but gives many more people the chance to really learn & experience what they have to offer. Visitors rent the devises for USD$6.95 for a tour and can be combined with in-house promotion and advertising revenue to turn this 21st century learning tool into an eco-friendly sustainable source of revenue.

Our second attraction is the International Spy Museum in Washington DC. Interactivity was the key mission for the Spy Museum to give visitors a real taste of espionage activity as well as the thrill of the chase. Using the same GPS Ranger® technology they developed a very engaging game that takes visitors out onto the streets of Washington DC to decipher messages, gain clues & seek code words hidden at key locations. Visitors can become an undercover ops agent for the Special Security Division for just USD$14.95 as part of a great day out at the museum.

The sophisticated game play technology allows for a 'choose-you-own-adventure" style experience that depends on skill level, preferences & decisions that visitors take along the way. The adventures last about 90 minutes and whether visitors go as a group, or as their own undercover agent, it's a sightseeing adventure never seen before.

There are over 30 other venues across the USA using the GPS Ranger® solutions in different ways. These include numerous Zoos and National Parks as well as entire cities such as Austin, Texas as part of the Visitor Centre's Historical Walking Tour and recently introduced to provide 2 walking tours of Victoria, BC Canada and the list is growing.

The challenge for our modern and future focused Australian attractions is to keep pace with the world and ensure our position as a leader in providing entertaining and up-to-date amusement, leisure & recreation facilities. You can find out more about using this kind of technology by contacting GPS Adventure Guides via their web site www.gpsadventures.com.au or email [email protected]