It is Zordix’s house warming party. Owner Matti Larsson, former successful entrepreneur of computer game company Resolution Interactive, proudly shows off the new offices at the Renmarkstorget in Umeå. Here he has gathered seven young programmers, animators and graphic designers to fine tune the new company’s coming launches.
The team have a broad range. Apart from launching the new concept of digital tourism, the company is also developing computer programs for patients with movement disorders, as well as games for Nintendo.
Digital tourism
Zordix believes that products for digital tourism could become big over the coming years. But despite Zordix’s background in the world of computer games, digital tourism is not about sitting behind your computer, sending out an avatar or a character to explore virtual worlds. The idea is rather to make digital tourism a part of the physical visit at a destination. For Zordix it is about giving the tourist a more in-depth experience of the stay, for instance with the aid of digital technology and cell phones.
Matti Larsson says: “A good example is the walking tours of the city. We already tried this in Umeå, in connection with the 2009 sustainability week ‘See Umeå’.”
In the “See Umeå” project, Zordix collaborated with students from the civil engineering program in interaction and design, and together they built an application that could be downloaded to a cell phone.
“As a tourist you then have access to maps over where you are, and a product like that can include web, data bases and different mobile units.”
“We believe that we’ll see many cool applications that will enrich the tourism industry and the tourists’ visit in Umeå, for instance, or maybe in Stockholm’s Old Town.”
Nordic folklore
But Matti also wants to connect the products for digital tourism to Nordic folklore with its siren of the woods and its little people. He envisions an application that allows the visitor to take part in digital experiences of myths and folklore, where the tourist can also visit a physical environment where the tales of the siren of the woods can come to life. This way the digital and the physical environment can come together in an exciting mix.
And who knows, maybe digital tourism can become a piece of the puzzle in spreading the Umeå’s name in Umeå, once the city becomes the European Capital of Culture in 2014.
Movement disorders
Apart from digital tourism Zordic is also looking into an application for diagnosing and rehabilitating patients with movement disorders. This includes Parkinson’s or other illnesses and disorders that need following up. Matti Larsson explains that the medical services here so far have not had a working patient system. Now Zordix has developed a patient system that enables doctors to follow the progress of patients with these types of injuries and, according to Matti, there has been a lot of interest.
Games for Nintendo DS
Other than digital tourism and rehabilitation of patients, Zordix is also developing games for the handheld game console Nintendo DS. Zordix has already been appointed authorized developer of online games for Nintendo DS games and Wii. The company is also involved in a new online sales channel for Nintendo DS games, which means that they will be able to sell their games directly to Nintendo players worldwide. This way they have a speedy and promising distribution channel to tens of millions of possible private customers.
“And we’ve got a thumbs up from Nintendo’s European CEO”, says Matti Larsson, who is very happy for the support they receive directly from Nintendo.
Starting a new company where he can test products for many different industries is almost a dream come true for Matti. And he thinks that Zordix’s seven people strong team is a perfect size. It means quicker decisions and the opportunity to dare try their hand in at something new – very much in the spirit of Matti Larsson.
Photos from Zordix’s house warming party
Kent Gustafsson, Ljudbild, Peder Holmström, Hotel Aveny, and Mattias Ohlsson, Tactel.
Markus Eliasson, Zordix, Nils Wadensten, Zordix, and Jonas Andersson from Audio Alliance.
Dancing Lindy Hop.
Anton Eriksson, Zordix.
