Detour: Andrew Mason’s Immersive Audio Tour App Redefines Urban Exploration
Discovering Hidden Gems Beyond Tourist Traps
When I finally arrived at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf - 20 minutes late due to notorious Bay Area traffic - Andrew Mason was waiting with an early prototype of his revolutionary new app. The location might have been a classic tourist hotspot, but what Mason was about to reveal promised to transform how we experience cities.
The Detour Experience: More Than Just a Walking Tour
Mason handed me an iPhone loaded with Detour, his innovative audio tour application. After plugging in headphones and syncing our devices, we embarked on a journey that felt more like a personalized documentary than a traditional guided walk.
Key features that set Detour apart:
- Location-aware technology using GPS and iBeacons
- Synchronized group listening via Bluetooth Low Energy
- Documentary-style narration by local experts and storytellers
- Off-the-beaten-path routes that reveal authentic city experiences
As we wandered past crowded seafood restaurants to a quiet dock, a fisherman’s voice filled my ears with tales of the trade. The experience was so immersive I could imagine it airing on NPR - a far cry from typical tourist commentary.
From Groupon to Groundbreaking Audio Tech
Andrew Mason’s journey to creating Detour is as unconventional as the app itself. After:
- Founding and leading Groupon through its meteoric rise and subsequent challenges
- Relocating from Chicago to the Bay Area
- Briefly exploring creative ventures (including a motivational business song album)
Mason found inspiration during a Rome vacation where traditional audio tours fell short. His vision? To create an app that:
- Eliminates the need to share earbuds
- Adapts to your walking pace
- Focuses on authentic local stories rather than tourist clichés
The Technology Behind the Experience
Detour’s innovation lies in its seamless integration of:
- Precision location tracking: Ensures audio content matches your exact position
- Group synchronization: Creates shared experiences without technical hiccups
- Content creation tools: Allows producers to map tours and record professional-grade narratives
Currently offering five San Francisco tours in beta, Mason plans to expand with 10-20 new routes in coming months, eventually opening the platform to third-party creators.
Redefining How We Connect With Cities
Beyond serving tourists, Detour aims to help residents rediscover their own cities. Mason recalls a Chicago architecture tour that consistently sold out to locals through Groupon, proving the demand for deeper urban exploration.
The app’s most revolutionary aspect? Its ability to:
- Keep your phone in your pocket
- Guide you effortlessly through narratives
- Reveal hidden urban stories
“Instead of polishing life’s rough edges, we can celebrate them,” Mason reflects. This philosophy underpins Detour’s mission to use technology not as a distraction, but as a lens to better appreciate our surroundings.
The Future of Location-Based Storytelling
What began as a solution to vacation frustrations could evolve into a new medium for place-based narratives. By combining:
- Cutting-edge mobile technology
- Professional storytelling
- Local expertise
Detour has the potential to transform how we experience cities worldwide. If it can make even tourist-heavy areas like Fisherman’s Wharf feel fresh and fascinating, Mason may have indeed created something revolutionary.
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