SINGAPORE - Curious about the history of the Singapore Botanic Garden? A new mobile app designed to facilitate understanding and appreciation of historical landmarks will let you have heritage information at your fingertips.

The new Samsung app, called the Culture Explorer app, is the product of its collaboration with the National Heritage Board (NHB) and the National Parks Board (NParks).

During the six-month period of app development, NHB and NParks provided the information and pictures while Samsung organised the material into the app.

The app makes use of augmented reality technology, allowing users to use their phone cameras to take detect certain features in the heritage landmarks. The app then displays information about that feature.

Users will also go back in time, not just via the time travel feature which displays a timeline with old photos, but also by the photo feature which allows them to take a picture of themselves and crop it into old photos of the landmarks.

Those not at the location are also not left out as information about the landmarks can also be accessed at home.

While the app is free for all, it is largely targeted at locals.

Samsung also aims to help students learn about these landmarks. It is now in the pilot phase of school outreach - it worked with Gan Eng Seng Primary School two weeks ago, and will conduct another session with Yangzheng Primary School in July.

It will also offer to train teachers to conduct guides, or even loan android devices to the school for the students to use at no cost.

Its current version includes information about the National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Botanic Garden and Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, but will expand to The Arts House and Raffles Hotel by July.

The app is only available on android.