Mobile trails for public to learn more about Istana launched

SINGAPORE — Three new educational trails have been launched, with self-guided tours available on a mobile app, as part of efforts to make the Istana more accessible to the public.

The trail maps are available for free on the LocoMole app and cover routes in the Istana Heritage Gallery, Istana Park, and various areas in the civic district.

The three mobile educational trails were launched Wednesday (June 14) by President Tony Tan. Dr Tan said: “We are trying to make the Istana more meaningful and open to the public. The whole idea is to make the Istana more accessible ... so it’s easier for people to come at any time.”

“The Istana is very important in the history of Singapore. It is, of course, the official residence of the president, but it is also a symbol of Singapore. By going on these trails and learning about it, people will actually learn more about Singapore and do it in a very fun and interactive way,” he added.

Apart from trivia and stories, the trails contain hotspots with in-app games, quizzes and other interactive elements that tap on the use of GPS, Bluetooth beacons, image recognition and augmented reality.

All three trails are estimated to take around two hours to complete.

The Istana Heritage Gallery Trail allows visitors to learn about the Istana’s history as well as the state artefacts, artworks and state gifts on display at the gallery, while the Istana Park Trail introduces the flora and fauna within the park.

The Presidents’ Trail consists of seven hotspots in the civic district. Each hotspot highlights a president of Singapore, his beliefs and contributions to the nation.

The President’s Office collaborated with students from Singapore Management University (SMU) on two of the trails — the Istana Heritage Gallery Trail and the Istana Park Trail — and Temasek Polytechnic and Yusof Ishak Secondary School students on the Presidents’ Trail.

SMU Law student Foo Yang Yi, 21, one of the students who worked on the storyboard for the Istana Heritage Gallery Trail, said: “To bring the story to the people, to get people to be interested, to care more about the state of the governance and the rich history behind it — to me, it is a very meaningful thing, and I hope that as we go into the next generation, they will stay in touch with their roots.”

The Presidents’ Trail was first developed by Yusof Ishak Secondary School students for the SG50 celebrations. The latest version will feature some changes, including the incorporation of in-app games and photo challenges via an in-app camera.

Ms Ruby Jayanthi, 45, head of department (humanities) at Yusof Ishak Secondary School, who was in charge of the project, said: “We made additions to the content so it would be more suited to the civic-district area. So now it is more easily accessible by MRT and can be completed in a short period of time.”

Besides the new Istana and civic district trails, the LocoMole app also includes 58 other trails and over 650 hotspots in Singapore.