5 Smart Ways to Lock a Station
Every station can start with an intriguing challenge: arriving at a physical location, scanning a code, identifying an image, hunting for a hidden treasure with the camera, or solving a riddle. Participants unlock the station to reveal the content and progress through the tour.
A Lock for Every Situation
Touring a public park? A compass that leads participants to the exact spot. A museum with exhibits? Image recognition. Want an adventure? A camera treasure hunt. A classroom activity? A text riddle. You choose what fits, and you can easily combine them all in the same tour.
Compass: Physical Arrival (GPS)
Participants see a live compass pointing to their target. The distance updates in real-time steps, and when they reach the range you set, the lock opens automatically.
QR Code: Scan and Unlock
Print a QR code on a sign, sticker, wall, or object. Participants scan it with their phone's camera, and the station opens instantly. Simple, fast, and works perfectly anywhere.
Visual Recognition: Point Your Phone (AR)
Participants point their camera at a painting, sculpture, logo, or any visual object. Recognition is automatic and runs directly on the user's phone, even without an internet signal.
Secret Code: Solve the Riddle
Write a question or a riddle and set the correct answer. Participants type the answer to continue. You can configure the system to accept any phrasing that contains the right keyword.
Camera Treasure Hunt: Find the Hidden Object
Participants arrive at the area, open their camera, and search for a virtual object floating on screen. It grows as they get closer, and tapping it unlocks the station.
Each station can use a different lock type. Feel free to combine a compass, QR codes, image recognition, camera treasure hunts, and riddles all in the same tour!
Try It Yourself
Choose a lock type below and see exactly what the participant experiences. With the secret code, you can even try typing the answer yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a compass lock and a QR lock?
A compass lock is location-based (GPS): participants physically walk to a point you set, and it opens automatically when they're in range, making it great for outdoor tours with GPS map navigation. A QR lock is scan-based: participants scan a printed code with their camera, which is ideal for any environment, especially indoors.
Do the locks work offline without an internet connection?
Yes, absolutely. All five lock types in Spotix work fully offline. The GPS compass uses satellites instead of the internet, QR scanning runs locally on the camera, image recognition (AR) is processed directly on the phone, camera treasure hunt uses local GPS and compass sensors, and the secret code uses simple text comparison.
Can I combine multiple lock types in the same tour?
Definitely. Each station in your tour is configured independently. You can set the first station with a GPS compass, the second with a QR scan, the third with image recognition, and the fourth with a camera treasure hunt. You choose whatever fits each specific point.
What happens if a participant gets stuck and cannot open the lock?
Every lock in the system includes an optional 'Skip' button. If participants get stuck on a riddle or have trouble scanning, they can bypass the lock and continue the tour. You can set a point penalty for skipping in advance, ensuring no one ever gets stuck.
How does the camera treasure hunt lock work?
Camera treasure hunt: participants arrive at the area you defined, open their camera, and enjoy an augmented-reality experience (in the style of Pokémon Go). A virtual object appears floating on screen, and as they physically walk closer it grows larger. Tapping it unlocks the station and reveals the content. The operator chooses the image, sets the hiding point on the map, and defines the search radius. Perfect for scavenger hunts and adventure tours.
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