Four years ago, the giant rubber duck on the Toronto waterfront took the city by storm. If you failed to snap a selfie with it then, you are in luck. After all, you can now fake one with the help of augmented reality technology. The duck in question stands six stories high and weighs 30,000 pounds.
Its return is here, thanks to the Redpath Waterfront Festival. It was supposed to return last year, but the original plan was canceled to prevent the formation of crowds. Held by Waterfront BIA, the annual festival has instead turned to augmented reality to bring the duck to us.
There are five stops between the HTO Park and Keating Channel where users can utilize this technology. Every stop uses QR codes to load virtual experiences about the history of the Toronto waterfront. They will be available from September 17 until October 3.
The virtual rubber duck, located at Rees WaveDeck, will be the last stop on the east path. These installations know that this project will appeal to social media users. There will also be art displays along the Redpath Waterfront Trail for people who would rather appreciate something physically present.