Enable an encounter with a rare Pterocarpus Forest

Pterocarpus Forest GlobalGiving Report – June 29, 2020

The spread of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Island and the subsequent lockdown delayed but did not stop our efforts to complete the Forest Tour App project.

Since the last report we completed the “script” for the app, with a variety of Pterocarpus Forest and pertinent, nature-related themes organized around 18 “stops” which start at the Forest entrance and continue along the ¾-mile elevated interior walkway and end at the Observation Tower and Visitors’ Gazebo. The final version was completed at the end of May, and included audio and visuals (narration in English and Spanish, photographs, videos, recorded sounds) appropriate to each stop or theme (such as recycling in nature, methods of seed dispersal in the Forest, and the impact of hurricanes).

The app was sent to Apple and Android for review. The Android version was approved and The Pterocarpus Forest application is now available for download in the Google Play Store (a "screenshot" is attached).

The Apple review is in its final stages, supportive proprietary information about the App developer (PHA Pterocarpus Forest, Inc.) having been sent in the past two weeks.

The next steps to be taken include posting new signage at the entrance and within the Forest identifying the “stops” mentioned in the application and included in the narration. Once this is done, we intend to conduct a “dry run” of the app with the collaboration of volunteers and interpretive specialists and to make corrections and modifications as needed.

While we review the quality and evaluations of the app experience, we will publicize its availability on our website and in social media.

As soon as possible, the Board will be invited to meet, virtually or physically, to experience the final version of the application.   Hope the next report includes an invitation to download the App and visit the Forest!

Pterocarpus Forest GlobalGiving Report -- March 1, 2020

As you may recall, we have been working on interpretative, educational material on a variety of themes organized around 18 “stops” (originally 25) which start at the Forest entrance, continue along the ¾-mile elevated interior walkway and end at the Observation Tower and Visitors’ Gazebo. The discussion of the draft text (“script”) in the last report included photographs, illustrations, videos and sounds appropriate to each stop or theme (which include topics like recycling in nature, the various methods of seed dispersal in the forest, and the impact of invasive species).

After our last meeting with Virtualize.net, we discussed the draft script, the significant changes recommended by Turabo in terms of video and illustrative materials, and also instructed Virtualize.net to initiate the next steps in the technological parts of the process, including getting the applications in the Apple and Android systems.

Since the last report:

• The text of all of the stops was updated in the Tour Application by VirtualizeNet, the company handling the technological and production components of the Forest Tour App, with the last revised version of the text.

• After all the texts were updated, VirtualizeNet took additional photos more appropriate to or consistent with the revised texts and updated them in the application.

• VirtualizeNet will continue to search for, or produce, images and / or videos that depend upon seasonal changes in the Forest environment referred to in the narrative.

• In the early part of this month (March) VirtualizeNet will begin the process of the publication of the App on Android and Apple application platforms. They have recommended that Apple be approached first, and will do so as soon as possible, as it may take longer to be approved and published on that platform.

• Recording of the bilingual audio portion of the project will begin in mid- to late March. In the meanwhile, we may first publish the App as text, without the accompanying audio, which will be added at a later date. This decision on this matter will be taken at the next meeting with VirtualizeNet and the PHA Pterocarpus Board of Directors early this month.

We now expect to debut the completed App, including the audio sections, before the Annual Assembly of the Palmas Homeowners’ Association, a major Forest collaborator, on April 18, 2020.

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