Adopt-A-Rhino

Challenge

In 2013 Sea Monster collaborated with the technological giant Qualcomm and National Geographic to deliver the ‘Adopt-a-Rhino’ Augmented Reality (AR) app, which raises awareness around a critical environmental issue, whilst increasing the public’s familiarity with the technological wizardry of the smartphone revolution.

Qualcomm is the world’s leading provider of the wireless technology, and Sea Monster is proud to be Qualcomm’s only Preferred Developer in Africa.

Combining Qualcomm technology with Sea Monster’s animated digital content, this app allowed National Geographic fans to adopt their own virtual 3D rhino calf. As a user, your 3D pop-up baby rhino is triggered when your smart device hovers over a collectable card.

You can then interact with your AR rhino by tapping on your device’s screen, watching him respond with a sneeze, a flick of his ears, or a cute little stomp.

The more tweets that the campaign gets, the livelier and happier your little rhino becomes.

This AR app was designed to capture the imagination of tech-savvy kids, who are hungry for apps that not only extend the virtual universe through sophisticated technology, but that also engage them in a meaningful way through story-telling and speaking to issues that are important to them.

The ‘Adopt-a-Rhino’ AR app is the first step in this story, raising awareness around an issue that is close to our hearts, and in 2014 we are hoping to launch Phase 2 of the campaign, through releasing an update that allows people to care for their rhino as a virtual pet.