FranzFerdinandRichter
FranzFerdinandRichter

Interactive hidden objects

FranzFerdinandRichter

Client: Barkhausen Institute, intolight, neongrau

Illustration by Robert Richter

 

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a central topic in the ongoing digitalization. But what are the possibilities and potentials of this technology? What benefits does the Internet of Things bring to society? The Barkhausen Institute and the interactive "Wimmelbild"  are actively engaged in exploring these and many other questions, with a focus on the security of IoT applications.

To kick off the "Schaufenster der Forschung" exhibition - a new space in the Technische Sammlungen Dresden - the Barkhausen Institute aimed to present 15 different IoT applications in an illustrative way. The scientists planned an interactive exhibit for this purpose. Explaining Complexity in Simple Terms IoT is a collective term for various technologies that connect physical and virtual objects with each other.

The Barkhausen Institute, together with neongrau, combined 15 of these high-tech applications in a "Wimmelbild" about IoT. The whole thing was illustrated by Robert Richter. This special form is characterized by large formats and a variety of components, figures, and situations. The content of the IoT "Wimmelbild" was developed in workshops together with the customer. The exhibit links the topics of transportation, health, industry & agriculture, housing, intelligent route planning, energy management, green spaces, data protection, and mobile communication. Current scenarios, such as autonomous driving, smart homes, or urban gardening, are illustrated using animation.

 

FranzFerdinandRichter
FranzFerdinandRichter

The interactive "Wimmelbild" is also impressive in size, measuring 2.24 m x 2.90 m. It consists of the printed image, a touchscreen, and a projector. The exhibit is built as a triptych and can be used as a mobile unit, making it easy to set up and take down for fairs or museums. The actions in the "Wimmelbild" are represented by animations that are triggered by the user's touch. For this purpose, 9 capacitive touch sensors are attached to the back of the image. When a visitor interacts with the exhibit, wind turbines start to turn, vehicles start to move, and drones fly over the image. The animations are output using an ultra-short throw projector, bringing the scene to life.

The interaction of the individual elements was specifically developed for the Barkhausen Institute's application, using the VVVV software framework. The partner neongrau was responsible for the screen design of the touch monitor. This allows the different content chapters to be controlled despite the size of the "Wimmelbild", making even hard-to-reach topics accessible.

FranzFerdinandRichter
FranzFerdinandRichter