AN Evesham business is helping to publish a university prospectus with digital content via smartphone.

Areca Design, have developed a Mobile Augmented Reality app to allow students to take a virtual tour of the various University of Gloucestershire campus buildings.

Past students spring to life from the printed-pages, appearing as animated avatars, along with video-footage of the campus and classrooms.

Richard Leatherdale, of the marketing and student recruitment department at the University of Gloucestershire, said: “We initially approached Mick and the team at Areca Design about developing an app to help prospective students access our content in an engaging, relevant way, and were delighted with their enthusiasm.

"From the off, they have been really open to ideas while also being honest about what is and isn’t achievable – though more often than not, when an issue was discovered, the team at Areca Design would find a way around it.

"Working with this technology was a new venture for us, daunting and exciting in equal measure.

"As such, we needed somebody that we could trust to make sure the product was delivered as we needed it to be. Areca Design not only matched this need but exceeded it with their passion and creativity. We are all delighted with the end app and are all looking forward to finding ways to continue its development with Areca Design.”

Mick Hurst, managing director of Areca Design added: “People rely on their mobile devices like never before and so Augmented Reality Apps (AR) have become the perfect way to drive customers from print, adverts, exhibitions or packages, into your world of digital – be it on-line or in-app. The world of AR is only limited by your imagination.”

To experience the University of Gloucester AR App for yourself, search on your IOS or Android App Store for ‘Uni of Glos’ and download the free App.