Shetland Islands Tech Update

Living Lerwick explores the use of technology to bring more people back to Commercial Street.

17:46 10 June 2019

The Scottish Government has recently awarded Shetland Islands Council £205,000 capital grant money as part of a national scheme that aims to make town centres more attractive. The money would be split between Lerwick and Scalloway.

 

 

 

On Monday, project manager Emma Miller says that Living Lerwick could use half of the money (£96,000) in expanding its existing heritage trail mobile phone app and developing an augmented reality system that could help visitors better understand the town’s history. Certain activities, such as digital scavenger where children could be looking around town for Living Lerwick’s mascot Maunsie, are also being considered.

 

 

 

Project manager Emma Miller said: “It’s all about trying to encourage loyalty to the town centre,”

 

 

 

She added that an app could also be used to offer shoppers with real-time discounts and incentives. Another part of the plan is a series of physical installation across the town centre, which could be like an art trail but more “natural and cultural.”

 

 

 

Miller added that footfall counters could also be used along the streets as well as traffic counters at South Commercial Street, the Market Cross, Irvine Place and near the Fort chip shop.