America’s Attic
The challenge
Create a flexible, interactive storytelling platform for a new Smithsonian experience that inspires feelings of warmth and wonder
The solution
An immersive projection experience that allows users to explore and engage with interactive content
The details
Timeline: 6 weeks
Client: Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building
Course: Making Spaces, Fall 2017
Team Members: Claudia Mezey, Thomas Zembowicz
My Responsibilities: 3D CAD modeling, system testing, hardware-software interfacing, fabrication, projection design; collaborated on all project decisions, owned all physical prototyping
Context: Arts and industries building
One of the four wings of the currently vacant Arts and Industries Building.
The Smithsonian Future Project will be a non-museum, pop-up exhibition occupying in the Arts and Industries Building (AIB) that aims to give visitors an optimistic glance into the near future
Due to the historic nature of the building, installations cannot make any impact whatsoever.
Context: The Orb
The Orb is a navigation device that enhances user experiences at the AIB.
Visitors can opt to enter personal information, such as their name and email, into an Orb upon entry. The Orb uses this information to craft a personalized experience and allow seamless wayfinding and interaction throughout the AIB through the use of localized WiFi signaling.
America’s Attic
America’s attic is a dark, enclosed space. When the user enters with an Orb smart device, the Orb begins to glow. As the user moves the orb in front of the walls of the room, projected light follows the path of motion, revealing snapshots of people, places, objects, and events.
Interactive text, video, and sound can also be initiated when the user hovers over an image. As you approach the wall to get a closer look, the size and brightness of the projected image increases, mimicking a real flashlight.
How it works
The Orb illuminates in response to local WiFi within America’s Attic.
A wall-mounted camera detects light and feeds data to a Python computer vision script that determines the position of the Orb in 3D space.
Position data is fed to another program that renders and animates content, and then generates the projection.
Design Process
Ideation, prototyping, and iteration
Our client ruled out LCD and LED screens for their high cost and overuse in modern museum-like settings. Projection allowed us to create dynamic digital content while avoiding the use of screens.
We tested various technologies (such as projection mapping, LEAP motion, and Kinect sensors) to find the most robust, seamless methods for interactive projection.
We used a rear projection system to ensure that users did not block the projection when approaching the screen.
Final Prototype
For our presentation, we needed a portable structure that could house all of the components for both America’s Attic and Postmodern Card. I optimized the design to have as large of a screen as possible for America’s Attic while still fitting through the doors and hallways between the build site and the presentation venue.
Our final prototype demonstrated one wall of what we envision as a whole room. The structure is constructed of 2x4s and MDF.
When closed, the box was narrow enough to fit through the doors.
When expanded, the projector was situated at the perfect projection length for our screen.