Portyl App Revives Ancient Ruins With Immersive AR Travel
▼ Summary
– Histoury’s Portyl app uses Unity and Niantic Spatial technology to create 3D reconstructions of historic sites, turning smartphones into immersive “time machines.”
– The app offers AI-guided tours in over 60 languages and features geospatial precision to overlay historical scenes onto present-day ruins.
– Portyl launches with experiences at iconic Roman landmarks like the Pantheon and Colosseum, allowing users to see them in their original splendor.
– Key features include Hollywood-quality CGI, an AI historian named Saige, and flexible “Espresso” tours for personalized exploration.
– The app targets the growing heritage tourism market, addressing pain points like overcrowding and lack of engagement with interactive AR experiences.
Step into history with cutting-edge AR technology that brings ancient ruins to life right before your eyes. The new Portyl app transforms smartphones into powerful time machines, offering stunning 3D reconstructions of historical landmarks with pinpoint geospatial accuracy. Developed by Histoury, a team of gaming industry veterans, this innovative platform merges augmented reality with AI-guided tours in over 60 languages, redefining how travelers engage with heritage sites.
Using Unity’s game engine and Niantic Spatial’s advanced positioning tech, Portyl overlays meticulously crafted digital recreations onto real-world ruins. Picture standing in Rome’s Pantheon and watching it teem with life as it did two millennia ago, or witnessing the Colosseum in its full glory, complete with marching legions. The app doesn’t just show static images; it immerses users in dynamic historical scenes, from the bustling Forum of Trajan to the sacred temples of Largo di Torre Argentina.
Todd Porter, CEO of Histoury, describes the experience as transformative: “Portyl bridges the gap between imagination and reality. Visitors no longer need to guess what ruins once looked like, they can see, hear, and almost touch the past.”
Unlike traditional audio guides, Portyl offers interactive, on-demand storytelling. Key features include:
- Hollywood-grade CGI bringing ancient architecture and figures to life.
- The app launches amid a booming $2 billion heritage tourism market, with AR travel experiences projected to grow by 30% annually. Research commissioned by Histoury highlights traveler frustrations: overcrowding, rushed tours, and difficulty visualizing historical sites. Over 70% of respondents said they’d visit more landmarks if technology made them more engaging.
- Joe Gabriel of Niantic Spatial praises Portyl’s potential: “This is spatial computing at its best, blending digital and physical worlds to create unforgettable moments.”
- Available for free on iOS and Android, Portyl requires no special gear, just a smartphone and a sense of adventure. Whether you’re a history buff or a casual traveler, this app promises to turn every visit into a time-traveling spectacle.
(Source: VentureBeat)
