2. Zoourney










Introduction

As a Zoologist, Research Zoo Animals!


How much do you know about animals in detail?
Didn't you pass through the corral without understanding the animals inside?
Let's find out what animals eat and like with ZOOURNEY!




Feature

Intuitive and Interactive




When a visitor approaches an animal pen, a virtual paper appears and tells the user about the animal's name, height, weight, and habitat.


Research missions induce users to interact with MR objects, which are related to animals. The experience provides novel information about animals without stressing them out.





Feature

Rewards


Food items got through the mission can be exchanged for real food at the snack bar.


At the exit, the visitor will get a virtual degree in animal research. The degree will be made only for the mission-completed animals.


Each animal has 3 to 5 missions.
If the user clears all missions in each animals, animal icons will change into a coin.
However, it is hard to collect all the coins in first visiting because of animals that can be seen in zoos are vary depending on time and season. So, Zoo can expect visitors to revisit.





Prototyping

Interface: Size and Distance


Large Paper - First Person View


Large Paper - Third Person View



We prototyped the ideal window size we thought.
However, it was too big, and far to reach. The signifier(in this case, the distance) was inappropriate for the crowded zoo.


Small Paper -  First Person View


Small Paper - Third Person View


So we reduced the size of the window and placed it near the users.
The user was able to reach it without stretching the arm far away.





Prototyping

Interface: Mission Plates


Ribbon - First Person View


Ribbon - Third Person View


We started from a ribbon-shaped one. 
However, there was a limit to the space where the contents could be placed.


Slate - First Person View


Slate - Third Person View


So we moved to plates, and gave them depth variation.
The mission in progress is closest to the user, and the completed mission is the furthest away from the user.





Prototyping

Interface: Angle


First Person View


Third Person View


This is an interface to place a virtual object.
This should come from an angle that is easy to see when seated and imply that the user can place objects on it.





Prototyping

Interface: Transparency


Translucent


Opaque


The translucent one is more appropriate for the zoo tour.
It doesn't block the sight completely.





Filming

Preparing for the Video





3D models imported into Reality Composer

We also created a 3d model set for the service.
It was used in filming after imported into the Reality Composer.




When the camera was on top of the head, the view was too high and shaky.
We decided to lower the camera close to our neck to make it more stable and natural.




To shorten the video editing time, we used the chroma key.




This is our storyboard.





Background

Seoul Zoo



Worldwide, Zoo has become a highly controversial topic.
The Seoul Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in Korea, is well aware of animal suffering.
They are making various efforts to sort out this.


Environmental Enrichment
Food Enrichment
Social Enrichment
Sensory Enrichment

Cognition Enrichment

Play Enrichment

Positive Reinforcement

The Seoul Zoo is making these efforts to relieve the stress of animals.



A Study on Species and Ecology
Studies on breeding management,
proliferation, radiation, etc of
endangered wildlife.

Wild Animal Hospital
Studies on breeding management,
proliferation, radiation, etc of
endangered wildlife.

Animal Experiment Ethics Committee
Studies on breeding management,
proliferation, radiation, etc of
endangered wildlife.

They are also actively doing activities such as wild animal rescue and researcher education.
Thanks to these works, the Seoul Zoo became the first zoo in Korea and Asia to be certified as an AZA (excellent zoo certification) on September 7, 2019.





Background

The Challenge: Insufficient Funds





The Limited Budget from Seoul City


Extremely Low Admission Fee

The operating expenses of the zoo partially come from the Seoul Metropolitan Government budget. The Seoul Zoo needs to cover the extra costs from the entry fee. However, admission to the Seoul Zoo is about 4$, which is very inexpensive compared to zoos of similar size in other countries. Therefore, it is hard to expect profits from admission fees.
So we thought that a new business model is required to improve the circumstance. 
Zoourney, a Mixed Reality tour service, is made for this without stressing out the animals.