ZAGORJE’S STORIES: GREAT FIGURES OF CROATIAN ZAGORJE IN AN INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA APPLICATION

The idea behind the “Zagorje Stories” project is to commemorate the most significant figures from Croatian history associated with Croatian Zagorje at authentic Zagorje locations. The technology ideal for such a task is augmented reality (AR). Thus, through AR, we presented Antun Mihanović in Tuheljske Toplice, Franjo Tuđman in Veliko Trgovišće, and Antun Augustinčić in Klanjec.

“As soon as you scan, it starts loading”

Now you’re probably thinking: “The first Croatian president Tuđman was born in Veliko Trgovišće, the globally renowned sculptor Augustinčić was born and died in Klanjec, but what connection does the author of the Croatian anthem lyrics, Mihanović, have with Zagorje?” This is one of the things you’ll find out in “Zagorje Stories”, and all you need is a smartphone or tablet. Brojka designed and implemented an interactive multimedia application that launches by scanning a QR code from the interpretation board. To the delight of many users, the application does not need to be installed; you just launch it and enjoy the various entertaining and educational multimedia content it offers. And it offers a lot.

Animated Biographies

To begin with, each of the great figures is presented with a short, visually striking animated biography. This approach is more accessible to various age groups and people with different levels of education. Biographies as a form can be terribly dry, but these include a touch of humor, making them work more like entertaining films rather than boring school material. The animation is minimal, but sufficient to effectively tell the most important parts of the lives of these great figures.

Augmented Reality (AR) Connects Specific Places and People

Now you’re probably wondering why you would go, for example, to Tuheljske Toplice just to see an animated biography of Antun Mihanović. It’s because the “Zagorje’s Stories” application has a strong AR component that works only at specific locations. For instance, in Tuheljske Toplice, there is a bust of Mihanović that, with the help of the application, “comes to life” and recites verses of “Lijepa naša.” In Klanjec and Veliko Trgovišće, there are interpretation boards dedicated to Augustinčić and Tuđman. Augmented reality brings completely new additional content to these boards. What kind of content? We don’t want to spoil the experience by revealing everything in advance, so it’s best for you to discover it yourself.

If You Get Lost, Look at the Map

For easier navigation, the application includes a map with marked locations related to individual great figures, and at these locations, QR codes are placed to launch “Zagorje’s Stories.” Naturally, the map also highlights other interesting cultural and historical sites nearby. Since “Zagorje’s Stories” aims to educate as well as entertain, we equipped the map with a song to make it less boring and more unique! It features a rendition of the Zagorje classic “Lepe ti je Zagorje zelene” which also partially serves as a guide for using the application. The song is performed by the well-known Zagorje actor and musician Adalbert Turner Juci, who is also the narrator in the biographical films.

For easier navigation through “Zagorje’s Stories,” here are the exact geolocations for the boards with QR codes:

Antun Mihanović, Tuheljske Toplice, Lj. Gaja 4 – Park Dvorca Mihanović  – https://maps.app.goo.gl/1b9cBSpdW6YfhVy5A

Dr. Franjo Tuđman, Veliko Trgovišće, Ul. S. Radića 6 – parking lot of Dr. F. Tuđman Memorial School – https://maps.app.goo.gl/gAV58frHnExtm1oh8

Antun Augustinčić, Klanjec Trg A. Mihanovića 10 – parking lot of A. Augustinčić Gallery – https://maps.app.goo.gl/jh73Mn3UpFgYchwX7

And That’s Not All

That’s not all the content that “Zagorje’s Stories” offers, but you’ll have to discover the rest for yourself, and it’s not all there is to “Zagorje’s Stories.” Since Zagorje, with its rich history, has produced many notable figures, Mihanović, Tuđman, and Augustinčić are just the beginning. “Zagorje’s Stories” plans to feature other important people from Zagorje, and there are plans to expand the project beyond Tuhelj, Klanjec, and Veliko Trgovišće, i.e., beyond the area of operation of the Biser Zagorja Tourist Board, which commissioned the project. Follow us to find out which individuals will be the next to receive their own “Zagorje’s Story.”

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