Technology Meets Chocolate: Opening of The Chocolate Factory
All photos: Courtesy of Lagotronics
(eap) Today sees the opening of The Chocolate Factory in Veghel (Netherlands), which is located in an old industrial building and invites visitors to discover the various stages of chocolate production through gameplay based on modern technologies.
The 30-metre-high building has ten floors, each with playful applications and interactive stations about chocolate making. The technology-based games include, for example, a drone flight through a virtual chocolate factory silo. This can be played immersively using a VR headset or via a screen, in which case the player sits on a kind of motion-based scooter seat with special effects. In the “Operator Room”, which actually consists of two rooms with twelve consoles each, a hands-on activity awaits visitors, who are immersed in the chocolate production process and have to solve various issues that arise. The actual silos of the historic industrial factory in turn serve as a surface for projection mapping designed to give a glimpse behind the scenes of chocolate production.
The main project partner for the implementation of The Chocolate Factory was the Dutch company Lagotronics, which was responsible for the hardware and software, technical engineering, game development and the installation and programming of the experiences. “This project was a fantastic opportunity to bring our interactive gaming expertise into a truly immersive environment. Seeing the chocolate factory come to life with engaging gameplay elements has been incredibly rewarding for our team, and we’re extremely proud to contribute to this innovative and educational experience, which will hopefully inspire the next generation of creators and innovators in the region!,” comments Berno Joosten, COO, Lagotronics Projects.
The Chocolate Factory is a collaboration between the Dutch education sector and the business community, initiated with support from the province of Nordbrabant and the Dutch government. ■
