Some more background on the interactives we've recently installed at the Great North Museum...

Medieval Case Study

This looks at how archaeologists can find out about how people used to live from the objects they left behind - and imagines what objects from today will survive for the next 1,000 years. Aimed at a younger audience, this interactive is bright and breezy - but crucially is gauged towards a fairly short visit time and gets lots of information across in a punchy and engaging style.

The Orientation Map

This is one of the 'big ticket' items in the museum; a pair of interactive map tables that allow users to explore Northumbria and its key sites of interest.

We developed  the idea of a 'navigation ring' that users can drag around the map and 'drill down' into new layers of content (seas and costs, uplands, lowlands and woodlands).

The ring works as both a navigation device and timeout (it collapses in on itself then bounces around the map tempting users to touch it). Beetles, ants, butterflies and caterpillars all make appearances over the map, adding to the overall experience.

The technology behind the map - both hardware and software - is rather nifty and will be the subject of another blog, Mapping Northumbria. Enjoy!