The Nokia Research Center (NRC) present at Hollywood, has started a private pilot research project, The Westwood Experience. This pilot project is aimed at exploring how a compelling narrative, combined with a user’s physical location augmented with digital content as well as social interactions with other “participants” can enhance the user experience and provide the media industry with new options and business models.
The Project is simple. First the participants wander through the village of Westwood. They learn about a man, and the woman who changed his life through one magic evening, and how both of them are forever tied to Westwood. Then the participants are guided through the story interacting with the real world around them using the Nokia N900’s visual and audio capabilities and thereby adding physical location elements, mixed reality effects, a live actor and a physical movie set.
This Westwood Experience may be termed as a new form of “3D reality show” where real streets and buildings provide the story locations for both real and virtual characters and the audience walks through the story.
Nokia who has a long history of mobile innovation with it, is leading the convergence of mobile and the internet in pilot project with many media and entertainment industries involved in it. Working with Hollywood talent, such as writers, designers, actors and composers, NRC Hollywood combines its mobile DNA and consumer understanding of user interaction on mobile devices with the creativity and storytelling craft of Hollywood.