Young people enjoy space-powered virtual experiences
A web app has been released that rewards young people with digital mementos when they complete fun challenges designed to boost their wellbeing.
It is one of many space-enabled virtual experiences developed by charities and non-profits that encourage kids to stay healthy and keep learning as their lives continue to be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The new web app is from BurnleyTogether, an organisation in the north England town that helps to boost wellbeing in the area.
It was created using a platform called Stay, which was developed by Bristol-based space-tech company Landmrk with the support of ESA and the UK Space Agency.
Kids are using the web app to snap up digital rewards – or badges – as they complete challenges that keep them active, encourage mindfulness, and help them learn about the environment – all while complying with guidelines put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The platform uses geolocation data to encourage young people to take advantage of Burnley’s many green spaces.
Data from the Earth observing Sentinel-5P satellite is also being used to educate the young people of Burnley about climate change and explain how lockdown affects nitrogen and carbon emissions.
The BurnleyTogether online app is one of three experiences developed in partnership with Landmrk.
Young peoples’ education has been hampered by coronavirus restrictions, so London non-profit Blam used Landmrk’s technology to create a web app called History Bites, which gives kids the chance to see Black history memorialised through augmented reality plaques and sculptures.
Developed as part of Black History Month, but now available all year round, the app allows kids to learn more about five different historical figures, including Mae Jemison, the first black woman to travel to space.
Kids are using the web app to brush-up on the people in question, before completing a fun quiz to test their knowledge.
Using geolocation data, it places a statue or plaque of the historical figure near the user’s location, which can be located on an interactive map.
Charities have also been using Stay to engage young people and raise much-needed funds.
Earlier this year, the platform was used by sexual health and HIV awareness charity TackleAfrica to power its Race to Africa campaign.
Using an online app to track race progress, young fundraisers jogged, cycled and swam locally to contribute to a collective virtual journey from London to Durban, South Africa, to raise money to support the organisation’s many projects across the continent.
Seth Jackson, chief executive of Landmrk, said: “It has been a real pleasure to have the support of ESA and the UK Space Agency at this challenging time. Their investment has allowed us to roll out space powered digital initiatives for organisations of social purpose and we hope to build on these pilots and take the platform to a wider audience, allowing organisations to continue to raise much-needed funds, educate and engage.”
Nick Appleyard, head of ESA Space Solutions, said: “2020 has driven us to think and act more locally, and also to spend more of our time immersed in online worlds. But instead of battling to get kids to put their screens down, we can put this to a positive use. BurnleyTogether is getting young people outside, engaging with their social and environmental surroundings, learning and having fun. And this will help them in the long-term to develop mindfulness and good habits to benefit their wellbeing. It is truly making good use of space.”
Co-funding for the Stay project was supplied by ESA Business Applications under the ESA Space Solutions umbrella, in which the UK is a leading investor.