The Whig-Standard

Published Aug 05, 2026

The quaint patio at Delightfully Different Tearoom in Martello Alley on Wellington Street in Kingston Supplied photo

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For weeks, Kingston entrepreneur David Dossett has been experimenting with Augify, a Canadian-developed augmented reality platform that allows users to add personalized augmented reality experiences to cards and pictures, bringing them to life in a whole new way.

According to a news release, Dossett said the app has the potential to transform how businesses, museums, galleries, and tourism organizations connect with their audiences.

Dossett, owner of Martello Alley and Martello on Brock, has been integrating Augify into his galleries to create interactive experiences that go far beyond traditional retail.

He said by simply scanning an image with the free Augify app, customers can watch paintings come to life through animation, hear musicians perform by scanning a CD cover, open websites, view videos, access additional information, and experience digital content layered onto the physical world. It also allows then to visualize artwork in their own home before purchasing.

“Augmented reality has been around for years, but until now it hasn’t been this accessible,” said Dossett. “After extensive testing, I’m convinced this technology has the potential to become a game changer, particularly for small businesses that want to create memorable customer experiences without enormous marketing budgets.”

According to Dossett, the possibilities extend well beyond retail. In the release, he said museums can bring historical artifacts to life with video and narration. Tourism organizations can add interactive stories to landmarks and attractions. Restaurants can showcase menu items, farms can tell the story behind their products, and educators can create immersive learning experiences — all through a smartphone.

“The beauty of augmented reality is that it transforms something people already see into something they can experience,” Dossett said. “Instead of simply looking at an image, people interact with it. That creates a stronger connection and a much more memorable experience.”

Dossett said the timing is especially significant, as he has been invited to speak for the second consecutive year at the Canadian Museum Marketing Conference this October in Ottawa. He noted that building on last year’s presentation, The Art of Attraction, this year’s session will show how augmented reality can help museums and cultural organizations increase visitor engagement, enhance storytelling and create richer, more interactive experiences.

As Martello Alley continues experimenting with Augify, Dossett hopes more organizations will recognize augmented reality not as a novelty, but as a practical and accessible tool for marketing, education, tourism, and customer engagement.