Interactive Museum Installation
SPELEON (Barac caves)
An interactive museum installation built for a large multitouch screen equipped with two physical magnifier devices.
Overview
An interactive museum installation built for a large multitouch screen equipped with two physical magnifier devices.
The magnifiers can be moved freely across the screen and reveal different anatomical layers of animals. One magnifier reveals a muscle layer while the other reveals a bone layer.
The experience includes animal anatomy content, cave-related video and additional information.
My Role
I independently developed the complete Unity application.
The main technical responsibility was integrating the physical magnifier hardware with the Unity application and using its position data to create the real-time visual effect.
Key Contributions
Developed the complete Unity application.
Integrated the multitouch environment.
Integrated the physical magnifier devices.
Implemented network-based device identification.
Implemented event handling for magnifier position data.
Implemented real-time mask movement.
Created separate anatomical visualization layers.
Implemented local video playback.
Implemented UI animations.
Technologies
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge
The physical magnifiers were external network-connected devices whose position and functionality had to be interpreted by the Unity application.
Solution
Investigated the device communication model and integrated its events into Unity so the application could respond to the magnifiers' real-time positions.
Challenge
Each magnifier needed to reveal a different visual layer while moving freely across the image.
Solution
Used masking to create independent reveal regions. As the physical magnifier moved, the mask position updated in real time and revealed the appropriate anatomical layer.
Technical Highlights
Technical Highlight
Network-Connected Physical Magnifiers
The application identified the physical magnifiers as network devices and consumed events describing their position and behavior.
Technical Highlight
Real-Time Masking
The visual content inside each magnifier updated dynamically as the physical device moved across the screen.
Results / Impact
- Complete Unity application developed in approximately 1.5 months.
- Successfully installed as a museum exhibit.
- The installation was deployed at SPELEON and is known to remain in the museum.
Video
External Resources
Gallery
