D.J.Willrich (DJW) was subcontracted by the lead contractor Beck Interior, to provide a full Medialon integrated system in Centre of the Cell. DJW also worked closely with the project designer, Land Design Studio.
In Centre of the Cell, visitors are immersed in a full audiovisual experience throughout five different 'spaces', or scenes. Being the main A/V show and media controller of the installation, Medialon is in charge of the set up of each of these scenes along with their timings. The Medialon system remotely controls the power up and down of all the A/V devices installed in the pod. It also sends devices status reports to help the staff solve any difficulties they may have. The five scenes designed in the Centre of the Cell are timeline shows. Thanks to Medialon Manager Timeline, it allows to easily synchronize the music, sound and video devices for each of the scenes.
A Pre Show with music and lighting effects welcomes visitors into Centre of the Cell. Once seated around the edge, the show begins. Using a Medialon control panel on a wireless touch screen PC, the moderator starts Scene One. There, visitors learn about what cells are. Lighting and music change, video is projected onto four two-metre diameter round screens integrated in the ceiling and six speakers play the accompanying audio. At the end of Scene One, visitors are warned that the 'Nucleus' - a giant lozenge in the centre of the pod, containing 10 touch table tops and screen interactive games -, will start to open.
In Scene Two, the doors of the 'Nucleus' open and the table tops slide out to reveal games about cells. Visitors can grow cells in a virtual laboratory or try to win cards by beating their partner's cells with their cell qualities. An interactive floor projection game where visitors stand on quiz answers about the size and number of cells in the human body has been installed. In addition, there are touch screen games and information points around the perimeter of the pod surrounded by lighting effects and all controlled and synchronised by Medialon.
From a simple touch on Medialon control panel interface, the moderator triggers Scene Three. While the lighting and music changes, visitors are directed to sit down and the Nucleus doors close. Video is again projected onto the round screens and audio plays. This Scene shows how cells can be damaged and presents some biomedical research about cells.
This leads into Scene Four, where visitors take on the roles of biomedical scientists in the games to try out new research solutions.
The moderator triggers the final Scene Five, which brings the visit to a climax with projection into the four circular screens showing the visitor how they can be part of this research, either by choosing a relevant career or making decisions in the public sphere based on their biomedical knowledge.
"The main challenge, which was one of the things that drew DJW to this project, was the need to control independent software applications on 25 computers. Almost every computer needs to run different software at different times throughout the visit and this was a challenge that we could meet with Medialon - whilst making changes all the way along," says David Willrich.
"As we programmed the Medialon Show Control system, the client realised how flexible it could be and made an increasing number of demands to include extra modes and greater control over the system.", says Nicola Jagger, project manager at D.J.Willrich. "This took more time but means that the client now has a show control system that they really are happy with."
(Jim Evans)
