Case Study: The University of Sheffield brings railway archives to life with Hive IT's AR storytelling prototype

The University of Sheffield launches AR rail storytelling prototype with Hive IT

The University of Sheffield, in partnership with the National Railway Museum and XR Stories, sought to make its archive rail artefacts more engaging and accessible to new audiences. They challenged Hive IT to discover how to bring these archives to life by creating an interactive, immersive story through augmented reality.

Hive IT developed an advanced prototype for a story-driven, augmented reality mobile experience. The solution involved creating a compelling visual novel set in a mid-20th-century train carriage, complete with period-accurate illustrations, an immersive soundscape, and 3D characters. Although a proof of concept, the prototype successfully provided a glimpse into the potential for making cultural heritage more accessible. Hive IT expanded its expertise in AR and game development through the project, gaining deeper insight into the processes required to bring a marketable game to fruition.

The University of Sheffield