22. January 2025
Explore Bata’s Pocket Watch in Augmented Reality
The Tomas Bata Memorial in Zlín introduces an innovative experience, blending rich history with cutting-edge technology. Starting January 17, 2025, visitors can join guided tours to explore a digital 3D model of a golden pocket watch that once belonged to visionary Tomas Bata.
Tomas Bata, renowned for his efficiency, saw time as a key to success. These watches are particularly significant as they show the time of the tragic crash on July 12, 1932, when Bata and his pilot Jindřich Brouček perished shortly after takeoff from Otrokovice Airport — just before six in the morning.
The Watch That Measured Success
The golden triple-cased pocket watch by Movado returned to Zlín in 2018, thanks to Bata’s granddaughter, Rosemarie Blyth-Bata. After the passing of Sonja Bata (the wife of Thomas Bata Jr.), she brought them from Toronto and donated them to the Thomas Bata Foundation. Since the summer of 2023, these iconic watches have been part of the guided tours at the memorial. To allow visitors to admire their intricate craftsmanship even during the winter months when they are stored for preservation, a digital 3D model of the watch was created.
Tomas Bata’s Pocket Watch, source: Tomas Bata Memorial, credit: Petr Willert
Detail of the Tomas Bata’s Pocket Watch, source: Tomas Bata Memorial, credit: Petr Willert
How Does Augmented Reality Work?
The digital model was developed by More.is.More using advanced techniques such as photogrammetry and structured-light 3D scanning, capable of capturing even the finest details, including reflective surfaces. This realistic model can be viewed from all angles, zoomed in on, rotated, and even projected into real-world environments like your desk via a QR code. This unique exhibit can now accompany you home on your mobile device. The model allows unrestricted access to the artifact and its story, ensuring its legacy endures for future generations.
3D model of the watch, source: Tomas Bata Memorial, credit: More.is.More
Viewing the 3D model by Deputy Mayor M. Hladíková, source: Tomas Bata Memorial, credit: Petr Willert
A Winter Visit to the Tomáš Bata Memorial
The blend of history, the unique architecture of F. L. Gahura, and modern technology makes visiting the Tomas Bata Memorial an experience that appeals to both fans of the Baťa legacy and enthusiasts of innovation and progress. Come and explore Bata’s pocket watch, the Junkers F13 model airplane, and discover the story of a man who changed the world. Guided tours are available year-round — in winter, they run every Friday and on weekends.
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