Connected Playground – Virgin Media O2

Project Overview:

LUX Technical was approached to design, develop, and deliver a complete technical solution for Virgin Media O2’s Connected Playground — the world’s first 5G-powered interactive playground.

Client:

Virgin Media O2

Project Lead:

Jubba

Date:

March 2023

Location:

King Sqaure Gardens, Islington

Project Overview

LUX Technical was approached to design, develop, and deliver a complete technical solution for Virgin Media O2’s Connected Playground — the world’s first 5G-powered interactive playground. Installed in Islington, the experience turned traditional play equipment into a live, data-driven installation, where movement, presence, and speed triggered real-time light and sound reactions — all powered by Virgin Media O2’s 5G network.

Objectives:

To demonstrate the real-time power and creative potential of Virgin Media O2’s 5G network through an interactive public experience designed to engage families and young audiences.

Brief:

We were commissioned to deliver an end-to-end solution for a smart, sensor-based playground experience — one that would turn live user activity into a responsive digital show. The output needed to be exciting, safe, intuitive for children, and powered by 5G connectivity. The installation had to include lighting and sound that evolved in real time and offered a digital takeaway for visitors.

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Project Fulfilment

Conceptual Design:

Our team developed the idea of transforming play into performance — designing a system where motion data could be turned into a live soundtrack and responsive lighting environment. The project needed to feel magical, while operating seamlessly in an outdoor public setting.

Technical Design:

Using a network of cameras and sensors, we built a system that tracked how many users were in the space, where they were located, how fast they moved, and what equipment they were using. This data was then processed live to drive both the lighting rig and generative sound engine.

Project Management:

We coordinated across multiple partners — including Virgin Media O2, Jubba, and the playground manufacturers — to ensure safety, connectivity, and creative integrity were all aligned. We handled all planning, technical documentation, testing, and operational support to keep the installation running smoothly.

Installation & Build:

LUX installed the full infrastructure on site — including sensors, cameras, lighting fixtures, speakers, and networked control systems. All equipment was installed discreetly and securely to suit a public outdoor environment and designed for reliability under continuous daytime use.

Event Delivery:

Once live, the playground became a reactive space where no two visits were the same. As children climbed, swung, and ran through the space, they unknowingly generated real-time soundscapes and triggered dynamic light patterns. At the exit, visitors could scan a QR code to download a custom sound file based on their activity — creating a playful, personal souvenir of their visit.

Technical Insight

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