The Imagination team, led by designer Caroline Wilson and lighting consultant Tony Rimmer, worked in collaboration with researchers and futurologists from Orange to create the interactive learning environment. The experience begins with a series of animated stories, linking everyday needs to technology. Three more zones follow a pattern of ‘Search and Find’, letting visitors experience and be creative with technology. The space is built around three key technologies - voice activation/recognition, personalized information and Orange Home services. In ‘Tell Me A Joke’, voice recognition software from IBM and Wildfire - previously only used to recognize adult voices - has been redeveloped, and now tells a joke at the child’s request. The software is triggered by RS232 inputs from an Electrosonic control system. Audio interfaces are via BSS Soundwebs, allowing full control over microphone and speaker levels with full parametric EQ and sound gate to limit the amount of background noise sent to the PC’s sound card (a Soundblaster Audigy device within Compaq Evo slimline desktops). The ‘Say Your Name’ area, also uses directional speakers to throw back voices at different pitches using voice recognition technology.
In ‘Chase The Rainbow’ visitors move through clusters of fibre optics, turning them from whiteto orange to demonstrate how technology can personalize space. All the fibres have a double fixing - one above the ceiling and another through an M16 cable gland to ensure they can take an adult’s body weight. The steel structure in the ceiling, holding 45 ceiling panels, was built by Howard Eaton Lighting Ltd. Behind this are 33 150W metal halide projectors - part of a lighting system linked by DMX to an Alcorn McBride unit supplied by Electrosonic.
