On September 17, 2015, our class went to the New York Hall of Science and we visited two specific exhibits. The first being Mathematica and the second, Connected Worlds. Between these two, we had to evaluate one of the exhibitions using the “Public Interactives Evaluation Form”. I chose to evaluate Connected Worlds and here is my evaluation:
Name of Exhibit
Connected Worlds
Sponsor of the exhibit
JPB Foundation
National Science Foundation
Google
NASDAQ Educational Foundation Inc.
Location of exhibit/installation
New York Hall of Science, The Great Hall
Still images of exhibit by itself
Still images of the exhibit being used by a visitor
Description of the mode of interactivity
Using gestures to plant and cut down as well as moving logs on the floor to change the water flow
Description of the interface
Interface are the 6 screens that surround the area with the projector and Kinect. The floor is technically an interface too as you can change the water direction with the logs.
Description of the content (story, images, narrative) that is displayed on the exhibit
The projectors are set up into different environments in different sections (desert, wetlands, forest, etc.). The content deals with understanding the ecosystem processes and learning about key requirements of nature and different ecosystem cycles.
Description of the technology used in the exhibit
Uses Kinect to detect gestures of planting and cutting.
Floor and logs are made out of different materials to be responsive. Infrared reflections?
Uses ambient nature sounds.
The explainers have the iPad that have different settings that can customize the different environments in the exhibition.
Information about the designer of the exhibit
design io and Moey Inc.?
Video recording of the exhibit in use
Video Link
Information about number of people served by the exhibit in an hour or day
We were there alone first – so 4 people? And then after we left, more people came in so total around 10.
Information about the way the technology tells the story of the installation
The technology gives a simulation of the ecosystem and it teaches kids the ecosystem cycles as well as life cycles and how what you do in one section affects another.
Interview with people who have used the interactive
I am obsessed with this – Leticia
AMAZING!!! – Murilo
