Riverton, UT — Coinciding with increasing demand for immersion, experience, and innovation across the retail entertainment and hospitality industry, design-build construction company Outside the Lines (OTL, Inc.) has launched Aquarius Interactive™, a new patented AI technology that is transforming the way guests interact with commercial property amenities.
“Aquarius Interactive™ brings something completely fresh to the market that will benefit developers, owners and operators of retail, entertainment, hotels, educational / edutainment facilities, parks, museums, amusement parks, and any property that wants to attract people to gather and have fun,” says J. Wickham Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer of OTL. “The AI technology is the first-ever to offer consumers control of water, lights, and effects based on motion alone, with no wires, pressure pads or handheld devices required.”
The technology is now at Mountain View Village, an expansive 85-acre experience-driven, mixed-use destination located in the southern Greater Salt Lake area known as the Point of the Mountain, in the city of Riverton, Utah. It was installed at the property’s large water feature, an amenity designed to attract guests and increase lengths of stay at the property. Visitors can activate the AI technology by walking by the fountain, which will respond to their movements by shooting water jets up into the air or changing light colors, or both.
Zimmerman describes the experience: “Imagine you’re at your favorite shopping center, and a guest stands and lifts their arm. Suddenly a jet of water streams 50 feet into the air. Like a maestro, the guest raises both arms and, with no wires, wands, or other devices, controls a visual symphony of water, lights, and extraordinary effects.
This is the power of Aquarius Interactive™.” Zimmerman adds, “Depending on how the fountain is programmed, which can change through the use of AI based on crowd engagement, it can interact with guests in a number of ways, such as mimicking movements, chase-and-follow, or almost anything you can imagine.”
OTL developed the technology based on a rigorous set of technological and engineering learnings garnered over the firm’s dozens of successful retail entertainment and hospitality projects to date, which span more than 200 million square feet across the globe.
The new Aquarius Interactive™ technology system is powered by artificial intelligence (AI), so it uses machine learning principles to continually improve its performance. The result is increasingly immersive experiences for users and audiences.
Without having to touch anything or enter the fountain, the system detects users’ location and motion and responds with displays of water, lights, and effects. The fountain at Mountain View Village is the second water feature in the nation to be enhanced with Aquarius Interactive technology; the first is at the Illuvia fountain at EpicCentral in Grand Prairie, Texas. OTL also designed and constructed both water features.
According to Zimmerman, OTL’s interactive technology is truly the first of its kind, delivering a ‘wow factor’ and long-term value creation for property owners and operators across the U.S.
“We expect robust demand based on the technology’s versatility – the system can be incorporated during construction or added to existing projects retroactively. This allows more owners the opportunity to share this new AI-powered ‘magic’ with their guests,” Zimmerman continues. “As the retail and hospitality landscape evolves, demand for retailtainment, experiential destinations and immersive technology is pushing new boundaries. OTL is a leader in this movement. With Aquarius Interactive™, we’ve created something that feels like magic and has never been seen before. It’s a breakthrough technology, and we’re proud to bring it to market.”
In addition to its engagement and interactive capabilities, the technology can also capture valuable demographic data, such as the volume of foot traffic in front of the fountain at any given time of day, as well as length of stay. Aquarius Interactive could also be used to create interactive targeted advertising or wayfinding to a point of interest.
To learn more about Aquarius Interactive and to see the technology in action, visit https://aquariusinteractive.com.
About Outside the Lines, Inc.
As creative leaders in design and construction, OTL increases the value of commercial properties and residential estates by creating spectacular, entertainment-driven features. Comprising the theming industry’s most creative visionaries and the best artisans, the OTL team delivers the highest quality project management and construction to transform any project into a world-class destination. Notable projects include Nancy Best Fountain at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, TX; Aquarium at the Boardwalk in Branson, MO; Mountain View Village II in Riverton, UT; Sandy Hook Memorial Fountain in Sandy Hook, CT; and Beaverton City Park Foundation in Beaverton, OR, among others. More information is available at www.otl-inc.com.
About Mountain View Village
Mountain View Village is the premier mixed-use lifestyle center in the southern Greater Salt Lake area known as Point of the Mountain. The mixed-use center is part of a 600-acre master development plan that has brought increased residential, office, and retail development to the area. More information is available at https://www.mountainviewvillage.com/