We've just installed 15 interactives and 10 AV presentations at the brand new Great North Museum in Newcastle. The museum launched on Saturday and - as a combination of four existing museums - is an incredible mix of Prehistory,  Roman Britain, Ancient Egypt, nature and the environment. We're proud to have our work in this fantastic museum.This project adds another string to the Cogapp Violin* as it is made up of many separate deliverables, as opposed to one deliverable with many parts (like MoMA.Guide,  ParaData and countless other goodies). Here's a quick look at some of the interactives; we'll look at the AV bits in another blog.

Diversity of Life

When visitors first enter the museum they are greeted by the massive Diversity of Life wall. Two stories high and running the entire length of the opening gallery, the wall is home to hundreds of animal specimens, grouped into Tropical, Temperate, Desert and Polar regions.It would be impossible to provide useful signage in this environment - and that's where digital comes in. We've built eight interactives which give users access to a digital recreation of the wall and lets them find out more about each animal. It's a simple idea but the beauty of it is in the execution; there is almost no interface and the interactive does only a few things - but very very well.

Virtual Walks

Building on the same software engine that we create for Setworks Benches, Virtual Walks takes visitors on a self-guided tour of beautiful Northumbrian landscapes. Again, simple and elegant were the key; we commissioned local photographer Greame Peacock to produce the photography which - as Winter 2008 was rapidly approaching at the time - was no mean feat on his behalf. A wealth of 'hidden' information and cunning use of video clips brings each large scale panorama to life. Lovely!

So you can see that what we've tried to do is create simple and beautiful interactives that provide exactly as much content and interaction as is required in the space. Visitors won't stand by the touchscreens for more than a few minutes at a time so the challenge is to give them as much information as quickly as possible - and I think we've managed it.I think this is the key going forward - its all about the Big Experience I never seem to shut up about. And the Great North Museum is lots of wonderful small things, adding up to an even more wonderful Great Big One.

Some more blogs coming soon about: other interactives, AV, techie goodness and a look behind-the-scenes (it's a bit like a DVD extra or something isn't it?)

* and yes I know a violin with five strings would be impossible to play but no-one said it was a perfect metaphor.