ARL Mobile Development

Animation Research Ltd's long history of mobile development goes back to before one could download an app from a store. In 2001 at an Australian PGA event, our ball-spotters started using in-house software running on HP Ipaqs to see the fairway they were standing on, and send their GPS data back to the operator at the broadcast center. These days the latest iteration of our proprietary software runs on Samsung Note devices.

Our initial experiments with smart devices targeted the iPod and iPhone, featuring mobile versions of our 3D viewer - the development of which was a natural progression from lessons learned while producing several 3D Viewers for web browsers. With the arrival of the iPad in 2010, ARL embraced the possibilities of the larger form factor, beginning production on a series of Augmented Reality (AR) apps for entertainment and purpose-built apps for both local and international companies.

Leading up to the 34th America's Cup in September 2013, ARL produced a number of apps related to the event. The Emirates Team New Zealand app featured Team News, biographies, tweets and the Virtual Eye 3D viewer - while the ORACLE TEAM USA Speed Trial let mobile users helm the Oracle AC72 catamaran in a simulated speed trial. Featuring live chat with officials and event media, event news, streaming live video and on-board audio plus the Virtual Eye 3D viewer, the America’s Cup Official App proved immensely popular with users worldwide - enough to earn an Emmy at the 35th Sports Emmy Awards the following year for it's outstanding new approach in sports event coverage.

Since the success of the America's Cup App we have produced several apps for other sailing events, most notably the Volvo Ocean Race and the 52 Super Series. Other mobile software we've built in the last few years has included audio-visual tour guide apps, machinery and plant maintenance apps, sports training apps and business reporting apps. ARL has also produced both VR and 360 degree video content for Gear VR and Oculus Go headsets.