SKT Unveils ‘Igloo’ Packed With Latest Technology at Seoul City Hall | Be Korea-savvy

SKT Unveils ‘Igloo’ Packed With Latest Technology at Seoul City Hall


Packed with the latest IT technology including 5g networks and virtual reality, the major telecom provider’s entertainment-packed venue comes with a number of attractions, including a VR-based ‘snow drift’ corner. (Image: SKT)

Packed with the latest IT technology including 5g networks and virtual reality, the major telecom provider’s entertainment-packed venue comes with a number of attractions, including a VR-based ‘snow drift’ corner. (Image: SKT)

SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — SK Telecom has unveiled an air dome ‘igloo’ at Seoul’s City Hall ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, bringing snow drifts and snowball fights to the heart of the South Korean capital.

Packed with the latest IT technology including 5g networks and virtual reality, the major telecom provider’s entertainment-packed venue comes with a number of attractions, including a VR-based ‘snow drift’ corner.

A large robot inside the venue gives visitors a taste of sliding, making riders feel as if they are slipping down a snowy mountain, with its arm moving in connection with VR devices for the full experience.

While the robot’s dynamic movement could almost give visitors dizziness, the snowball fight experience allows people to fight off monsters in videos by throwing mock snowballs at them, as the laser sensors located on top of the screen connect player movements with the game.

Special gloves and a vest equipped with haptic sensors are on offer for a more intense virtual snowball fight experience, as haptic technology sends shockwaves when users are hit by snowballs thrown by monsters on the screen.

Visitors can enjoy UHD winter-themed video content projected onto the ceiling with the help of 14 projectors, adding to the Winter Olympics atmosphere inside the temporary building.

SK Telecom has unveiled an air dome ‘igloo’ at Seoul’s City Hall ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, bringing snow drifts and snowball fights to the heart of the South Korean capital. (Image: SKT)

SK Telecom has unveiled an air dome ‘igloo’ at Seoul’s City Hall ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, bringing snow drifts and snowball fights to the heart of the South Korean capital. (Image: SKT)

The video is smoothly played at the igloo despite being 20 gigabytes per second in size, thanks to streaming compression technology and 5g networks enabled by SKT’s base stations nearby.

In addition, other cutting-edge information technology products such as VR and robotics are available for visitors.

Entry to the ICT Igloo is free, and the facility will operate until February 25, with each experience ‘zone’ lasting between three and five minutes.

Visitors can enjoy UHD winter-themed video content projected onto the ceiling with the help of 14 projectors, adding to the Winter Olympics atmosphere inside the temporary building. (Image: SKT)

Visitors can enjoy UHD winter-themed video content projected onto the ceiling with the help of 14 projectors, adding to the Winter Olympics atmosphere inside the temporary building. (Image: SKT)

SKT says up to 3,000 visitors per day – for a total of 85,000 – will enjoy the igloo-inspired dome packed with technology.

“We chose to open the experience zone at City Hall to show off South Korea’s ICT technology to many people, including international visitors. As it is located right next to the ice skating rink, we expect many family visitors,” an SK Telecom official said.

Hyunsu Yim (hyunsu@koreabizwire.com)

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