GLAMi nomination: Battleship Iowa Interactive Mobile Tour

Battleship Iowa’s mobile app lets visitors learn fascinating stories behind the people, history, weapons, and instruments of the ship through curator-led videos, custom audio tours, and Augmented Reality experiences. Powered by Guru, the app features beacon-enabled technology which interacts with smartphones to show approachable, location-specific content as visitors move through the ship. It provides insight on the items, stories, historical significance, and other entertaining factoids of the Iowa’s history. In addition, users can interact collaboratively with others by posting tips for future visitors, mapping visits ahead of time, and by collecting their favorite items in the “favorites” section of the app.

What makes the Battleship IOWA app different is that it provides content throughout the entire museum rather than in just one location or exhibit. It also provides visitors with the means to explore the ship at home as well as learn about parts of the ship that are not currently open to the public. Visitors are presented with a variety of choices ranging from wander mode, which utilizes beacons to present exhibits closest to a visitor’s location on the ship; map mode, which shows all items with content available and their locations; themed tours of varying lengths; and more. This ensures guests find a tour or path best suited to their interests and time restrictions. In-app offers help persuade them to visit again or stop by the gift shop on their way out.

The Battleship IOWA app is free and easily downloadable on iOS and Android devices. It also includes exclusive offers and discounts, videos, animations, augmented reality experiences, games, wayfinding, mapping, upcoming events, themed tours and more.

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