Plas Glyn-y-Weddw iBeacons

An innovative project which used iBeacons to deliver information to arts venues.

Cwmni Da’s flourishing digital team produced this innovative project as a result of their success in NESTA’s Digital R&D Fund for the Arts in Wales.

The company’s project for Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw was one of only six winners chosen from almost one hundred applications. This achievement follows on from the team’s success in NESTA’s Destination Local competition, making Cwmni Da the only UK company to have participated in both high-profile digital innovation projects.

Oriel Plas Glyn – y- Weddw is situated in Llanbedrog, between Pwllheli and Abersoch, on Pen Llŷn. It first became a public arts venue in 1896 and is today recognised as Wales’ oldest art gallery. Cwmni Da developed a mobile application which utilises new location-sensing iBeacon technology to deliver exhibition-related content to gallery visitors.

An iBeacon is a small, wireless device. When placed in a physical space, it broadcasts tiny radio signals to smart devices. As art-lovers explore the gallery at Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, iBeacons emit signals to their phones and tablets. The application delivers relevant videos, audio and other engaging content as visitors approach each individual artwork.

Working alongside the Art and Design Programme Area at Coleg Menai, Cwmni Da also developed an iBeacon mobile application for the end-of-year exhibition at Coleg Menai. Students from the college provided creative content for an application which uses iBeacon technology to enhance the work produced for their June exhibition.