The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), has partnered with Injazat to co-create a first-of-its-kind ’phygital’ user interface for House of Wisdom, Sharjah’s new cultural edifice and an iconic architectural marvel situated near the University City of Sharjah, which celebrates the emirate’s year long tenure as UNESCO World Book Capital 2019.
Allowing House of Wisdom-goers a seamless transition from the library’s physical space to digital technologies, and back, as they use its range of services to learn, create and share experiences with others, this Shurooq – Injazat collaboration has introduced a dimension to customer experiences, never seen before in libraries and cultural hubs in the entire region.
The House of Wisdom technology experience starts from the home, where the visitor can interact with the House of Wisdom viewing offerings from library to booking a space or an event through the website or the app giving members a multitude of interaction points and advantages of creating a profile for the member and their respective families.
In the building interactions happen with multiple touchpoints throughout the library that allow for smartphone interactions with totems enabling visitors to conduct searches and make bookings; transparent screens giving visitors a hologram-like history lesson by the likes of Al-Khwarizmi; a ‘Fab Lab’, equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters and a “Smart” touch wall for interactive learning or working sessions with other users across the world; and a dedicated Kids Area offering fun learning experiences to youngsters.
All of this is complimented and enriched by the strategic deployment of IoT, AI and Robotic technologies to enable facial recognition, smart parking and tracking for children, making the overall experience truly entertaining, as well as secure.
