Chronicle Digital Storytelling wows the Innovation Martlesham panel

The second Innovation Martlesham (IM) Competition was run in January this year in association with Ipswich Borough Council (IBC), BT and University Campus Suffolk (UCS) have now announced Chronicle Digital Storytelling as the winner.

John Royle, of Chronicle Digital Storytelling said: “We are very pleased to have won the competition. It is a fantastic opportunity to develop the business.

Ipswich-based John,46, has returned to his native Suffolk after a time working in Australia, where the concept began.

He said: “The strength of our vision is it is all about storytelling and having a social and community element to it.”

The competition panel said: “Chronicle has brought the Internet of Things into what it means for people in our society. It was a great example of how local businesses will benefit by driving footfall; improving customer engagement

and experience; while encouraging sustainable growth.

John Royle pitched to a panel of experts from IM, IBC, BT, UCS, Ipswich Central Management Ltd and the New Wolsey Theatre, outlining his concept to bring a social and community dimension to the Internet of Things. John’s concept enables people to share stories and reminisce

using smart devices and link them to places. These stories can be developed into trails for residents and visitors to enjoy as well as leveraged on-line and at community events and festivals. It is expected that the project will help people connect with family, friends and their wider community in a positive activity. At the same time the concept will help capture the essence of Ipswich through the stories of people connected to it. In turn it is hoped that this will encourage visitors and tourists to the town centre.

“Chronicle Digital Storytelling provides an opportunity for people to capture memories about places and events. The social and emotional benefits resonated well with the panel. We look forward to working with John and the team at Chronicle to pilot and refine their business concept” said Peter Lee, Economic Development operations manager, Ipswich Borough Council.

Paul O’Brien, head of Business Modelling & Operational Transformation BT said “It was a very difficult decision with some excellent submissions. In the end we went for the entry which most captured our imagination and took a fresh approach to tourism and the opportunities new emerging

technologies can provide.”

“It was a close call, but after a long debate the award went to Chronicle Digital Storytelling. In addition to offering a user friendly way of capturing people’s memories and experience at different locations they are also proposing a mechanism that can make these personal memories part of the town social heritage. This will potentially be useful in tourism as well as a range of other social inclusion and

health applications. We look forward to working with the team at Chronicle to take this from concept to market,” said Mohamed Abdel-Maguid, Head of Science and Technology at University Campus Suffolk.

“Innovation Martlesham is very pleased to have been able to run this, our second competition, and are

delighted to have teamed up this year with Ipswich Borough Council, and again with BT and UCS who

supported us for our inaugural competition.

“This collaboration is yet another demonstrator of how

these organisations in the region continue to support the growth of high-tech companies in the region.

Chronicle is a well-deserved winner and we’re very excited in seeing how Chronicle progress” said Nicky Daniels, Head of Innovation Martlesham.

www.chroniclestories.co.uk