Interactive virtual dinosaurs stalk Perth

The Western Australian Museum is allowing visitors to get up close and personal with more than 20 life-size animatronic dinosaur models in its exhibit Dinosaur Discovery: Lost Creatures of the Cretaceous.

Opened at the beginning of April, the exhibition brings to life the extraordinary dinosaurs of the Earth’s Cretaceous period with replicas include a 16 metres long and 10 metres high Brachiosaurus, a 14 metres long and 5.4 metres high Spinosaurus, a section dedicated to Australian dinosaurs including rarely seen before species, and more than 1,000 plant specimens showing the vegetation of the time.

In partnership with the WA Museum, digital designers Nick Lowe and Minh Tran have created an interactive experience that allows visitors to virtually interact with dinosaurs.

The technology can be viewed on a giant screen outside the museum or via mobile devices.

Lowe explained "we are using a lot of technology that is used in video games but something on this scale is new to Perth.

"The dinosaurs work on an artificial intelligence system (with a) camera at the top of the screen automatically (that) tracks people as they are walking.

"We also have our manual mode which lets us control them and run them around using the game controller."

Four dinosaurs are featured, from a Spinosaurus that almost fills the screen to small, bird-like Leaellynasaura, and each has been given a different character.

Innovative ticketing for the exhibition from House of Tickets includes similar technology with 3D Dinosaurs emerging from the tickets when scanned with mobile devices

The exhibition runs until August.

Click here to view the interactive Dinosaurs in the Perth Cultural Centre.