Chuck,

If I understand your interest/request, I think we are involved in both ends
of the spectrum.  That is, computers commanding the focus of the exhibit and
computers behind the scene.

One example: http://www.innova-at.com/moreinfo/prtfolio/SDMRRM/SDMRRM.html

San Diego Model RR Museum acquired a historical 40+ year old topographical
map which had originally been wired with 100+ points-of-interest lamps.  We
were asked to update the technology and make it usable for interpretation of
the map.  The front-end (user interface) is a Touchscreen Kiosk and the
back-end is our Lamp interface modules.  The task was to make the map the
focus of attention rather than the touchscreen.  The touchscreen allows
display of supporting text and graphics for interpretation and the topo map
provides the spatial information.

This example does require "explicit interaction" as do the large majority of
our projects.  We have other projects which use a computer/controller to
control the interactions and have no "monitors".   You can see other
examples by going to the following location:

http://www.innova-at.com/moreinfo/prtfolio/prtfolio.html

If you have any question or comments feel free to contact me directly.

-Mark-

 * Mark Fowle, General Manager
 * INNOVA Applied Technology
 * 2841 East 19th Street
 * Signal Hill, CA 90804
 * Email: [log in to unmask]
 * http://www.INNOVA-AT.com/
 * Phone: (800) 417-9060
 * Fax: (800) 773-7694

 * Providers of Interactive Solutions *

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Patch" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 7:55 AM
Subject: un-"monitored" computers in exhibits


> I'm trying to put together a session for the fall meeting of the Museum
> Computer Network (www.mcn.edu) on the use of computers in exhibitions that
> are more subtle than the typical touch-screen interactive (although I'm
not
> totally ruling these out). Is anyone familiar with exhibitions in which
> computing technology is used with output devices (lights, sound, animated
> models, whatever) that do not rely on the viewer's explicit interaction
with
> a machine on the exhibit floor? Is anyone familiar with production
companies
> that do this sort of thing?  Is so, please email me off list or call at
the
> number below.
>
> The tease:
> The Discreet Machine
> It would seem that the computer kiosk has become a standard feature of
> nearly every major museum exhibit. In almost any museum, it gleams forth
> upon a gaggle of enchanted onlookers while the real objects surrounding it
> in the gallery go unobserved. Talk to computer people and "interactive"
> invariably means fingering hot spots on a screen.  How can computers be
used
> to enhance and not dominate the exhibits of which they are a part? This
> session will consider the more traditional interpretation of the term
> "interactive" and at technologies and installations where the machinery is
> behind the scene, it's impact subtle and where there's nary a screen in
> sight.
> ___________________________________
> Chuck Patch
> director of systems
> The Historic New Orleans Collection
> (504)523-4662
> (504)598-7108 (fax)
> www.hnoc.org
>
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