Protesters hold a candlelight rally at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Dec. 3 to call for President Park Geun-hye’s resignation. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Korea Bizwire) – The impeachment vote to bring down President Park Geun-hye is planned for Friday, but it’s not going to stop angry Koreans from once again gathering on Saturday for what will be the 7th nationwide rally, with protestors calling for Park to step down immediately.
This weekend’s rally, however, will be marked by a little bit of fun using a new augmented reality application.
Tech startup VRex Lab officially launched on Wednesday a mobile app called “Rush”, which relies on location-based AR features for users to share messages that will pop up on smartphone screens at certain locations, as if sticking a Post-it on a virtual space.
Rush is not an app with complex features.
Users can simply start the app with their phone’s GPS turned on, which will turn to a camera screen indicating the current location. They can then take a picture, insert a 50-word message, and save, which will bind the content to that specific location for others to view on their smartphones using the app.
As for the protestors gathering at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square this coming Saturday, they can use the app to imprint messages of justice, rage, hope, or whatever suits their fancy, that will be saved to the square’s virtual reality, and will linger pretty much indefinitely as long as the app lives.
A photo taken by the app at a Gwanghwamun rally with texts and location added. (image: VRex Lab)
Of course, the app’s possibilities are endless.
Because it allows users to choose whether to share their content with all Rush users or just with specific people, users can save intimate memories at meaningful places, store secret messages for friends and families to discover, or even use the app for Pokémon Go-like fun, competing with friends on missions, hunting for hidden clues and trails.
“(Rush is a) fun way for friends and acquaintances to create a space they can mutually sympathize with,” said CEO Rudy Lee. “We’ll develop it into an AR platform for global audiences to leave behind stories around the world.”
By Joseph Shin (jss539@koreabizwire.com)
