Making the real world accessible

ThingLink eLearning and education licenses have this week become available via Azure Marketplace, Azure Portal, and AppSource. This means Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers can now sell ThingLink to their customers and create bundled solutions.  ThingLink will provide Microsoft resellers and their customers support with training so that partners in the CSP program are equipped to handle ThingLink related requests from customers.

Photo credit: State of Maine

Kristen Muszynski is the director of communications at the Department of the Secretary of State in Maine. Some time ago her colleague Tammy Marks, director of the Maine State Archives, started advocating for investing time and money in new technologies to showcase the archives’ holdings.

ThingLink user: WaterAid - is a remarkable organization who focuses on making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere.  Read more about their amazing work and make a contribution, here!  Each year the WaterAid digital team puts together a landing page that reviews their various initiatives in the form of a Global Annual Report.  In order to increase engagement and improve the experience of readers, WaterAid uses two interactive images on their landing page, one map and one infographic.  Continue reading to explore these examples and learn pro tips if you want to create similar content! 

ThingLink user: Cincinnati Orchestra - take a virtual trip directly into the conductors chair of the Cincinnati Orchestra with this interactive 360° tour.  Learners can navigate through each section of the orchestra, hearing specific instruments in the background, seating arrangement locations, and explore embedded Wikipedia pages on each instrument.  ThingLink 360° tours can be consumed on any device, screen size, and within VR headsets powered by WebVR (view compatible headsets). This content was captured with a Go Pro 360 camera. 

ThingLink user:  City of Espoo  - interactive floor plan layered with 360° images

Description:  Building interactive maps and floor plans with ThingLink is a popular way to educate viewers about physical spaces or administer virtual tours.  For example, you can create an interactive floor plan of your corporate office to acclimate new employees before their first day, or interactive maps featuring your organization's initiatives in a certain region.  The City of Espoo, Finland layers 360° images on top of each room appearing in this floor plan of a new service center.  This virtual tour gives visitors a view inside the service center and learn where a certain service is located and how to get there.   If you are looking to acquire an easy to use DIY 360° camera for making interactive maps or floor plans we recommend the Ricoh Theta. 

ThingLink user: Melbourne Water Map (click to explore live or embedded below)

Description:  The Melbourne Water team has been working with residents, representatives from community groups and project partners to reimagine and co-design a section of Arnolds Creek in Melton, Australia.  This landing page features a detailed timeline of the project, as well as an interactive map that educates participants on the finalized design inspired from the local community.  Using an interactive map here allows viewers to learn more about the various improvements, features and amenities that will begin construction in October 2018.