pervasive media studio

Unlocking markets for content delivery

Two major technology trends are reshaping the creative industries: Web 2.0 has created a rapid growth of User Generated Content which is changing the way content is made and delivered and networked and context-aware channels promise to change the way content is accessed and consumed. How will the consequences of these trends be commercialised?

In November 2009, Watershed began an 18 month Research and Development project to develop software and prototype pervasive media services which:

a) allow people and companies (with a wide range of skillsets) to author immersive and interactive experiences which trigger digital media (images, text, sounds, audio and video) as users move
through the physical world, in response to physical events
such as location, proximity, time and movement

b) allow users to download and play these experiences on their phone in situ

c) offer a variety of models and ways that these services can be commercially delivered. 

The project is a collaboration with partners Bristol Old Vic, Historic Royal Palaces and the New Musuem of Bristol. Initial experiments will focus on the Heritage and Tourism sector but will create technology that can be rolled out across other sectors. 

The project will be managed by iShed and technical development and delivery will be by start-up and studio resident Calvium.

The project was selected as one of eighteen investments by the Technology Strategy Board to support new research and development projects aimed at helping the UK's digital content creators and rights holders to maximise the commercial return potential from their intellectual property.