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The Xstory – Lapland Stories through Experience Technology project continues the work of previous experience technology projects at the interface of technology, culture and tourism. Previous projects have identified the interest of entrepreneurs in the region in utilizing experience technologies, as well as the need for support in mapping opportunities and implementing various solutions. The joint project of the University of Lapland and Lapland University of Applied Sciences focuses on the opportunities of cultural tourism, through which local tourism can be developed using technology.
The project has produced demos in both museum and business contexts. Different technologies have been utilized, including VR content built with game engines, 360 photos and mobile devices. The implementations have highlighted the past and present of Lapland and provided virtual access to hard-to-reach places.
Old Salla Virtual Cemetery
The virtual cemetery gives visitors to the Salla War and Reconstruction Museum the opportunity to visit cemeteries located in the Russian border zone, which are practically impossible to access physically. The virtual cemetery, created in the previous Lapland 2025 project by Experience Technologies, has been updated and expanded as VR devices have improved. The environment in the renewed virtual cemetery is more realistic and, in addition to the German military cemetery, a Finnish heroes’ cemetery has also been built into it. Usability has also been improved by updating both the graphical user interface and the desktop controller built for the application.
Virtual miniature model of Rovaniemi city centre in the 1930s
Rovaniemi city centre has experienced several changes during its history. The biggest changes in the last century are related to the almost complete destruction of the building stock in the Lapland War and the raising of the water level of the Kemijoki River in the early 1960s. The visualization produced in the project shows the Rovaniemi city centre area in the early 1930s, before the extensive construction by the Germans, the damage of the war and the arrival of hydroelectric power. The virtual miniature model has been built by combining today’s terrain data with old map and photo materials. The environment can be viewed both on a computer screen and through VR glasses.
TunnEscape escape game demo, Seikkailupuisto Pyhäkuru
A demo version of an escape game that involves practicing emotional skills and cooperation has been produced in collaboration with Finland’s only rock climbing park. The game, which was created from the idea of an adventure park entrepreneur, was designed in collaboration between the company, the university and the university, and the PC application for the game was produced with FrostBit. The game is designed to enable equal participation in groups where some players cannot climb the rock climbing course, for example due to physical limitations or fear.
Xstory – Stories of Lapland Through Experience Technology
1.7.2023 – 30.11.2025
592 108 € (Total budget)
255 008 € (Lapland UAS)
Siiri Paananen
Experience technologies create opportunities for e.g. for summer tourism and different remote experiences, as well as for trying out and creating new business models. With the help of digital technologies, stories can also be visualized and told in a way that does not require modifying or damaging the environment. Intangible solutions also make many destinations and experiences more accessible to a wider target audience.
