Selwyn council trials 'smart' playground

6:30 pm on 20 August 2017

Rolleston in Canterbury now has an augmented reality playground.

Levi Park, Rolleston has become New Zealand’s first Smart Playground

Levi Park, Rolleston has become New Zealand’s first Smart Playground Photo: Supplied / Selwyn District Council

Levi Park in Rolleston is trialling Playground Centre's Smart Playground, which combines digital and physical play.

A smartphone app will react to six markers attached to playground equipment and will issue instructions for games that can be played using the playground.

A council spokesperson said children would spend most of the time playing away from the phone on the playground equipment based on the game's instructions.

They return to the phone intermittently to complete a game function, a mini game or advance their progress through the game scenario.

The smart playground will be trialed for 90 days at Levi Park and then Selwyn District Council will decide if the technology will be introduced to other parks.

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