iOpener in Reading’s gazebo in Town Hall Square on Saturday 14 March. Note David’s cunning hoisting method for the banner and the discussion about favourite/least favourite parts of the town centre over our high-tech table cloth map. More on Saturday 21 March. Come along!

Xyrp_xpsXWA

kenmorrisdancers.jpg

tableclothmap

Reading on a table cloth. Black counter=horrid spot. Other colours=good spot.

Choosing best/worst Reading places

iopenerbanner

Pic 015

Pic 017

What’s your view of Reading?  Do you just see it as a functional town, or is there actually much more to see if you look more closely?

The iOpener project encourages everyone to explore beyond the ordinary, to take a closer look and let everyone else know where they have been and what they have seen. Participants are encouraged to walk around Reading town centre and make a trail showing some of the interesting things they find – these could be beautiful, historic, personally significant or just plain quirky or fun.

Participants can use a free fun-to-use mobile tracker app or upload information to the iOpener website on where they have been.  Those that prefer the low-tech approach can record their trails on a paper map and hand them in.  The mobile app runs on smartphones and tablets and participants can also use it to add photos, audio and video to their trails.

Annette Haworth of Access-Ability Communication Technologies (AACT), the charity behind iOpener, said: “On the surface, towns can often look very similar, with the same range of shops and other facilities around the high street.  We are aiming to demonstrate that there are many different ways that you can view our town, to get people thinking beyond the ubiquitous modern signs, to see and capture what’s unique about Reading.”

The iOpener trails project is part of Reading Museum’s new project called ‘Where’s Reading Heading?’ and is supported by Reading’s Cultural Partnership. ‘Where’s Reading Heading?’ will ask questions about the future of our town, promoting debate about how happiness for all Reading citizens can be ensured in a growing urban environment, while safeguarding the town’s precious natural heritage.

Do you want to have a go at making your own trails around town?  The iOpener team will be outside the Town Hall on Saturday 14 March and Saturday 21 March from 11am to 3pm and can help you get started.  Further information on the project and how to get involved can be found on the web at www.iopener.org.uk

About the ‘Where’s Reading Heading?’ project

‘Where’s Reading Heading?’ will ask questions about the future of our town, promoting debate about how happiness for all Reading citizens can be ensured in a growing urban environment, while safeguarding the town’s precious natural heritage.  It is funded by the Happy Museum, a national initiative looking at how museums can build links between environmental sustainability and happiness.

Her Majesty will graciously descend from her plinth in Town Hall Square 11am-3pm Saturday 21 March to join us in learning about trail making using her smartphone.

She will be jolly amused.

Give her your views on the best/worst of Reading using phone/camera/map & get a voucher for the museum cafe.

Come along to the Town Hall square. Visit our gazebo, see the Shinfield Shamblers Morris dancers, hear St Laurence’s bells, get loads of info about what Reading was like – masses of inspiration for making your trail from Berkshire Local History Soc.

Here’s more info about everything that’s going on on Saturday 14th at St Laurence’s