Project Type Interactive Installations
Museum Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre
Location Salmiya, Kuwait
Case Study Process of creating 33 interactive applications for the largest museum in the world
Bornfight
Building
Interactive
APPLICATIONS
FOR THE BIGGEST
MUSEUM IN
THE WORLD
Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre is one of the world’s largest cultural complexes housing a total of 22 galleries with over 1,100 exhibits.
INTRODUCTION
About the project
Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre celebrates mankind’s scientific and cultural achievements. It contains 1,100 exhibits in six different buildings - Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Museum of Islamic History, Space Museum, Fine Arts Centre and Theatre.
Together with our partnering agency Kingdom X, we designed and developed a set of advanced applications that connected with various hardware devices to form interactive installations for exhibits within the museum complex.
Interactive applications
By connecting innovative technologies, we created 33 applications that enable all visitors of the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre to explore, play, interact and learn about the world.
Advanced technology
Applications we designed and developed connect to various different hardware devices like robotic controllers, motion sensors, touch screens, projections, DMX light controllers and RFID sensors.
Limitless possibilities
Through the applications, museum visitors have the ability to take on the roles of scientists, experiment and learn about environment, history, art, space, energy and a variety of other topics.
Immersive experience
To make the museum look and feel immersive, applications and installations use different sensors to enable all visitors to interact with them via motion, touch, proximity or remote controls.
THE SHEIKH
ABDULLAH AL SALEM
CULTURAL CENTRE
application #1
EXH. REF: OE.A.New C
PROSPECTING
EXHIBIT
Gallery Our Earth
Gallery zone Beneath the Earth
Story The power beneath our feet
01
This interactive installation takes users through the process of oil prospecting, where they need to use provided funds to survey and drill on potential oil sites.
Application specifics
As finding oil is not an exact science, visitors need to use clues to estimate what their chances of finding oil are. They can use exploration drills as the most reliable methods to check for oil, but as they are also the most expensive ones, users need to manage their budget correctly.
5 - 10 min
Dwell Time
4
Maximum no. of users
Gallery Zone Our Earth
Gallery Type Beneath the Earth
Story The power beneath our feet
Technologies Used
- RFID sensors
- Touch sensors
- Projection table
- PHP
- JavaScript
Presenting the
achievements of
mankind through
22 galleries
Visitors move indicators with RFID sensors across the map to locate optimal drilling sites.
When users feel they found the right location, they can commence the process of drilling.
The map provides users with clues about specific locations on the map.
application #2
EXH. REF: CW.C.02
EARLY
WARNING
SYSTEMS
Gallery Our Earth
Gallery zone Weather forecasting
Story Weather now
02
Naturally-occurring weather events can inflict a lot of infrastructural damage to the cities and even result in the loss of life. That’s why inhabited areas use warning systems.
Application specifics
This interactive installation puts visitors in control of warning systems. Their goal is to save the city from natural disasters by interpreting weather data and sounding the appropriate alarms to warn the citizens of upcoming dangers. Predicting wrong events leaves the city unprepared.
5 - 10 min
Dwell Time
1
Maximum no. of users
Gallery Zone Our Earth
Gallery Type Weather Forecasting
Story Weather Now
Technologies Used
- Multitouch screens
- PHP
- JavaScript
IMMERSING VISITORS
WITH 1,100 EXHIBITS
AND INTERACTIVE
INSTALLATIONS
Weather detector provides users with information about potential natural disasters.
Users interpret the acquired data to determine which natural disaster might occur.
When users feel they have enough information, they need to sound the right alarm.
application #3
EXH. REF: OP.B.NEW A
CO2
EMISSIONS
Gallery Our place in nature
Gallery zone Our place in Kuwait
Story Human impact on the environment
03
Every country participates in global CO2 production. Users can find out which countries have the biggest effect on climate change and what they’re doing to reduce that impact.
Application specifics
This interactive application features a world map that shows information about the world’s biggest polluters. A simple click on each country on the map inflates a physical balloon within the installation and shows the amount of pollution each country produces.
1 min
Dwell time
1
Maximum no. of users
Gallery Zone Our place in nature
Gallery Type Our place in Kuwait
Story Human impact on the environment
Technologies used
- Multitouch screens
- PHP
- JavaScript
- Phidget Analog 4-output
- Air pump
CREATING
THE CULTURAL
& SCIENTIFIC
CAPITAL OF
KUWAIT AND
THE WORLD
Museum visitors can use the touchscreen to choose specific countries on the world map.
The screen provides users with additional information about the country and pollution.
After a user chooses a country, the balloon inflates to show how much pollution it produces.
application #4
EXH. REF: OP.B.06
SUSTAINABLE
INFRASTRUCTURE
Gallery Type Our place in nature
Gallery Zone Our place in Kuwait
Story Human impact on the environment
04
This interactive board game motivates users to roll the dice and answer questions about sustainable housing, while a multiplayer component adds the element of competition.
Application specifics
To interact with this application, users need to place their hands above certain parts of the board. By combining motion cameras and virtual projections, this digital board game uses a dice roll mechanic to determine where users will land and what questions will they have to answer.
3 min
Dwell time
2
Maximum no. of users
Gallery Type Our place in nature
Gallery Zone Our place in Kuwait
Story Human impact on the environment
Technologies Used
- Projector
- Microsoft Kinect
- PHP
- JavaScript
- NodeJS
- Custom hand tracking algorithm
DELIVERING THE
UNDELIVERABLE
BY CONNECTING
INNOVATIVE
TECHNOLOGIES
By playing this interactive board game, users test their knowledge about sustainable living.
Motion sensing technology enables users to move across the board by using their hands.
Visitors can compete and play together, as multiple users can participate at the same time.
application #5
EXH. REF: OP.B.NEW B
ALTERNATIVE
SOURCES OF
ENERGY
Gallery Type Our place in nature
Gallery Zone Our place in Kuwait
Story Human impact on the environment
05
By exploring the available options and adding different energy sources to a country’s energy mix, users learn about the positive and negative sides of each energy source.
Application specifics
This installation prompts visitors to create a diversified energy mix for a country. Users need to rely on combining natural resources like sun or wind, with coal and nuclear power, all with the goal of having a maximum amount of energy with as little pollution as possible.
3 min
Dwell time
1
Maximum no. of users
Gallery Type Our place in nature
Gallery Zone Our place in Kuwait
Story Human impact on the environment
Technologies Used
- Multitouch screen
- PHP
- JavaScript
- RFID reader
DELIGHTING TENS
OF THOUSANDS
OF VISITORS
WITH UNIQUE
MUSEUM EXPERIENCES
A touchscreen and indicators representing specific energy sources are used for interaction.
Users combine energy sources by placing indicators with RFID sensors on specific positions.
The final score depends on the ratio of produced energy and produced pollution.
application #6
EXH. REF: PH.E.07
TEETH
AND JAWS
Gallery Type Prehistoric life
Gallery Zone Investigating dinosaurs
Story Examining fossils - palaeo lab
06
By examining the teeth of various fossils, palaeontologists can determine preferred diet of the fossilised animal. This application puts museum visitors into the same role.
Application Specifics
In this interactive installation, visitors can take a magnifier to explore the fossils on the table and look for clues in order to determine the animal’s diet. This gamified concept shows users how palaeontologists use comparisons with modern animals to get new findings.
3 min
Dwell time
1
Maximum no. of users
Gallery Type Prehistoric life
Gallery Zone Investigating dinosaurs
Story Examining fossils - palaeo lab
Technologies used
- Multitouch screen
- PHP
- JavaScript
- WebGL
Museum visitors explore fossilised dinosaurs to discover their eating habits.
Users are prompted to use the touchscreen to look at teeth and jaws for clues.
Discovered clues help users learn about fossils and determine the diet of animals.
