While the cliché "there’s nothing like being there" may be true, software and interactive development company Intergen has worked with the Royal New Zealand Navy to make the next best option a reality.
With the wonders of modern technology and Intergen’s help, the Navy is now able to say, "Welcome onboard! Take a virtual tour around HMNZS Te Kaha, one of two ANZAC frigates in the Royal New Zealand Navy." For anyone thinking about a career in the Navy, the virtual frigate gives a bird’s-eye view of a range of different career options and what life on board is like.
Phase II of the Royal New Zealand Navy site www.navy.mil.nz went live last month (March) and bought some exciting additions to the Navy’s earlier site, says Navy Webmaster Adrian Butcher who worked with the Intergen team comprising Mark Trotter and Philip Drury to create the realistic frigate "tour".
The new site sees a replacement of an earlier version of the interactive 'Virtual Frigate' that allowed viewers to tour the ANZAC frigate Te Kaha online. The virtual tour provides visitors with the ability to explore the ship via a cross section view, including either a 360-degree panorama or a video experience of various areas inside the frigate as well as the Sea Sprite Helicopter and a Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB).
Viewers are able to read about the different sections of the ship and the corresponding job roles onboard, an experience that is aimed to attract more potential recruits, Mr Butcher says. "They can explore Te Kaha from bridge to galley, from operations room to flight deck, and find out about the Five Inch Gun, Close In Weapon System and Vertical Launch System. Viewing 15 areas of the ship leads to summaries of 21 role descriptions that are supplemented by extra information on the site. From seaman officer to weapons technician, communications operator to helicopter pilot, visitors can gain an understanding of how exciting life can be onboard."
Navy has the ability to update the textual parts of the Virtual Frigate whenever it wishes - this is achieved by separating the content (information) from the interactive functionality. This technology sits on the existing New Zealand Defence Force Content Management System (CMS) and interacts with content changes made on the web site. Delivered within this project is also a standalone version of this frigate - one that Recruiters will take along and use at career expos and other like opportunities.
Also returning is the 'Global Deployment Map' - graphic and interactive maps that display where the Fleet is stationed around the world and other interesting information such as locations of overseas postings and peacekeeping forces. This aims to provide interesting deployment information to public, Naval families and ex Navy personnel.
Mark Trotter from Intergen says it took about three months to build the site, sifting through lots of video footage to find the most revealing insights. "It gives you a real feeling of being inside the ship and it’s very people-focussed. The people on the ship tell their story – 'this is what I do'."
The site is intended to answer questions that new recruits might not want to ask outloud, but nevertheless want to know the answers to. "For example," Mr Trotter says, "they might wonder what it would be like to be on a ship for three months, confined to a cabin. But the virtual ship shows the frigate has a huge deck for exercise and phys ed class."
To ensure they had a real understanding of what they were trying to get across, the Intergen team went on board a real frigate. "It was a real eye opener and it’s been a great project to work on," Mr Trotter says. "It’s certainly not a boring brochure site."
To step on board the virtual frigate just go to www.navy.mil.nz and click on the button for the virtual frigate.
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