Virtual technology to connect different generations on Ardnamurchan peninsula 

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Virtual technology is to be used on the Ardnamurchan peninsula to strengthen community relationships and improve health and wellbeing. 

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Young people from Ardnamurchan High School will use 360-degree cameras, drones, and virtual reality technology to create virtual reality experiences which create a meaningful connection between them and places on the peninsula. They’ll then showcase them to members of the community.

The Centre for Recreation and Tourism Research at UHI North West and Hebrides has obtained funding from the National Lottery to run a pilot for the Virtual Connections project.

The pilot will involve working with young people from Ardnamurchan High School to shape and write a full project application. They will be supported by four workshops where they can develop the idea, familiarise themselves with the technology involved, the filming and editing techniques, have fun with some virtual reality experience and decide how the experiences they create can be shared with the community.

The workshops will be run by Centre for Recreation and Tourism Research staff with the support of the Youth Development Officer for Ardnamurchan and technology experts.

Kendra Turnbull, Project Officer at the Centre for Recreation and Tourism Research, said: “Young people will be empowered by the process, having learned about and created a project application which will be tailored to their wants and needs, with a view to becoming leaders of the project during the next phase. They’ll also be able to upskill in virtual technology and support a project that is building intergenerational connections between the people who live on the peninsula and the places.”

“I am really pleased to get this project started. It has been something we have been discussing and planning for long time. Connection to people and place is such a vital part of encouraging young people to stay or return to rural areas, and to do it through creating virtual reality experiences will be great fun.”