Belfast is embarking on a transformative journey to redefine how its history is told, moving beyond static monuments and curated museum exhibits to embrace a dynamic, living archive built from the voices of its own people. Through a landmark £300,000 investment awarded to three local technology companies, the “Augment the City” innovation challenge is pioneering the use of immersive technologies to capture and share authentic local narratives. This 18-month initiative, a cornerstone of the Belfast Region City Deal’s Digital Pillar and supported by Belfast City Council, aims to harness cutting-edge tools to empower communities whose stories have often been relegated to the margins. The project serves as a crucial foundation for “Belfast Stories,” a major new visitor attraction and creative hub slated to open on Royal Avenue by 2030, which promises to revolutionize the city’s tourism landscape by creating a unique, globally appealing destination built on personal, co-created histories rather than a single, monolithic narrative. By turning the microphone over to its residents, Belfast is not just preserving its past but actively building a more inclusive and interactive future.
A New Chapter in Digital Storytelling
The strategic vision underpinning the “Augment the City” challenge extends far beyond a simple technology grant, representing a calculated investment in Belfast’s creative and digital economies. The program is part of a broader £575,000 fund dedicated to fostering innovation and providing critical skills development for the city’s burgeoning creative industries. Officials have underscored the initiative’s dual purpose: to cultivate a more authentic and engaging tourism offering while simultaneously empowering local communities to become the authors of their own histories. This approach signals a significant shift from a model of passive consumption to one of active participation, where visitors and residents alike can contribute to the city’s evolving story. By leveraging technology as a medium for dialogue, the project aims to create a deeply personal and resonant experience that captures the multifaceted identity of Belfast. This commitment to collaborative innovation is designed to generate not only local economic and social impact but also to position Belfast’s entrepreneurs at the forefront of a global market for digital heritage solutions.
The diversity of the winning prototypes demonstrates the multifaceted potential of artificial intelligence in achieving this ambitious goal of community-driven storytelling. The first, the “Belfast Stories Generator,” developed by Hamilton Robson in partnership with 1Up Studios and the Nerve Centre, employs an AI-powered system with holographic interfaces to conduct natural, unscripted conversations. The oral histories gathered through these interactions are then processed by a story discovery tool, creating a scalable and easily searchable archive of authentic narratives that can grow organically over time. In contrast, “Life Stories” by Liquid City takes a more intimate approach through a mobile application. This platform features an AI-driven interviewer that poses adaptive questions, guiding users to craft personal stories in their own voice. The app prioritizes user agency, allowing individuals to keep their narratives private, share them with a select group, or contribute them to a broader public archive. Together, these two innovations illustrate a sophisticated, dual-pronged strategy that uses AI to capture both the collective memory and the individual experience of the city.
From Virtual Archives to Immersive Realities
While AI forms the backbone of the archival projects, other innovations are focused on weaving digital narratives directly into the physical fabric of the city. Ekaterina Solomatina’s “Memory Fractal” prototype represents a leap into this next generation of urban heritage engagement. This project harnesses the power of high-speed 5G connectivity and mixed reality to create interactive “narrative sculptures” that celebrate Belfast’s rich artistic legacy. Visitors will be able to use their devices to engage with their immediate physical environment while simultaneously interacting with virtual, 3D-scanned sculptures. Crucially, these digital artworks are not imposed upon the community but are co-created with input from local residents, ensuring they reflect the authentic spirit of the place. This approach transforms the act of exploring the city from a passive sightseeing tour into an active, multisensory discovery, where the lines between the physical and digital worlds blur to reveal deeper layers of meaning and history embedded in the urban landscape.
The successful implementation of these prototypes and the announcement of a new Belfast Region City Deal Challenge signaled a sustained commitment to fostering a vibrant ecosystem where technology and creativity intersect. The “Augment the City” initiative was structured not merely as a competition but as a collaborative platform that encouraged entrepreneurs to embrace digital technologies with significant global potential. Dr. Adrian Johnston, the Innovation Commissioner for Belfast, highlighted how the program successfully fostered a spirit of collaborative innovation aimed at delivering tangible local economic and social benefits. By providing both funding and structured support, the city has created a fertile ground for tech companies to develop solutions that are not only commercially viable but also socially meaningful. This model of targeted investment has laid the groundwork for a future where Belfast is recognized not just for its history, but for its pioneering role in shaping the future of digital heritage and immersive urban experiences.
