Interactive museum installation

The mission was to find one interactive museum installation/game/exhibit that I find interesting on youtube( and write 1-2 paragraphs what strategies/cues/features this item uses to engage users. In other words, why you think visitors should like/enjoy this item. Negative examples are also possible )


I searched for relevant videos and browsed around a bit before I find the video that I liked. At first I will talk about my favourite video which is a TED talk, then I will review some of other installations that I found in the process.

The most inspiring video for me was:
How will museums of the future look? | Sarah Kenderdine | TEDxGateway 2013

The main attraction of this talk(and the works she mentioned) for me was that technology and digital interactive interface was used to solve a real problem and served an actual purpose. As I wrote at the end of this text, I watched several videos showing interactive museum installations. In most of them interactive systems were used as an extra something that museum could still function normally without them. Which is not particularly a problem; many things in life are not vital but an added value. However in the process of making these installations, many lost the extra added value and turned to "something to make our museum look cool"!

All the projects mentioned in this talk solve problems such as off limit historical sight(virtual reality to visit remotely), showing properties of object or place that can not be seen by naked eye(extra detailed zooming in, or laser scan of objects) , recreation of original condition of the art piece(if the colors are faded, or parts broken)..

Each solution was made very carefully to enhance the experience as well as supporting points above. For example the spatial mapping of the places(e.g.: a historic cave) so that visitor feels in place while exploring walls.

The interactive systems were made in close cooperation with specialists so that the content was as strong as technology used to realise it.

Immersive features and artistic details were considered as well. For example use of music and animation in proper places.

But:At first I went into youtube and started a search for "interactive museum installation".

here are top 3 results :

1. Impossible Animals Interactive Museum Installation(2012)

the video description(as put under video): "In the summer of 2012, PO-MO Inc. and the Manitoba Children's Museum are showcasing a 3 month special exhibit featuring interactive 3D animals. Children color an egg on a piece of paper, scan it into the exhibit, and choose where their egg will hatch. A 3D robot delivers their colored egg to an interactive wall or floor (depending on where they want their animal to live), and they touch the egg to make it hatch. The animal is motion reactive (fish swim away, birds flock and drop feathers when touched, land animals follow the children and spawn hearts when they are touched). Other aspects of the environment such as the spaceship are also interactive.
One of the coolest features is the 'reset the world' button (not shown in the video) which allows museum staff to easily reset the exhibit once a day so the world is fresh in the morning."


What I found interesting about this installation was that they tried to combine digital and external world together. Children could draw on actual papers and feed it to digital world. This would give them a more personalised experience than merely playing an interactive game.

2.MOSTI - Interactive digital museum exhibit design(2013)

the video description(as put under video): "Commissioned by MTE Studios, an exhibition maker based in Dubai, Formula D interactive and partners developed 21 digital interactive media installations for a science and technology museum in Saudi Arabia. The interactive AV productions display various aspects of the technical and scientific advances of the Muslim world from 700BC to 1700BC in the fields of maths, medicine, botany, chemistry, astronomy, art and architecture besides others. The interactive AV's produced in the course of the project include touch tables, touch screens and other cutting edge interactive installations. During the 6 month design and production time, the design team worked closely with the client and researchers to conceptualize each application making sure the design of each interactive exhibit supported the exceptional visitor experience of the museum. "

It was a very comprehensive and multi modular installation, but at the same time very trivial. Trivial in the sense that not much of innovation was going on and the installation mostly consist of displays that were touch screen. Also the interactions and presentation ideas were very common. The part I like the most was calculators in different digit systems and mosaic building program, in both i liked the idea of letting people try some task by themselves.


3.Overly / Interactive museum installation(2016)

the video description(as put under video): "In cooperation with DD studio, we created a very special chandelier with hidden computer, projector, speakers, motion sensors and other equipment, so when visitors enter the place it looks just like an ordinary room. Once visitors approach the dining table, our exposition installation, it comes alive and becomes an interactive, fun game table. It is a unique experience for kids and a great way to learn more about the poet and the museum."

Well at leat it was not another screen! also the design was poetic and well in sync with the museum. Although it did not have anything specific to add to the museum or a message to convey.