Museum of technology in Islam gets immersive makeover PlatoBlockchain Data Intelligence. Vertical Search. Ai.

Museum of technology in Islam gets immersive makeover

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is an internationally renowned science and technology institution in Saudi Arabia that was established in 1967. It takes its name from the former king of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who decreed its foundation, intending it to “serve the people of the kingdom and benefit all the peoples of the world”. The organisation received a $20bn endowment, making it one of the best-funded universities in the world.

The Riyadh campus is home to the Museum of Science & Technology in Islam (MOSTI). The museum seeks to highlight the plethora of contributions made by Muslim scholars to science and technology during the first Golden Age of Islam (650-1650) and demonstrate how these contributions shaped the world as we know it, laying the groundwork for modern civilisation. It was fitting, therefore, to utilise cutting-edge interactive technology to lead people through the exhibits, forming an immersive exploration of the various artefacts and relics.

Formula D_, a design company that specialises in visitor experiences, secured the tenure for the technological curation of the site, and brought in Stage Audio Works, which helped specify, supply and integrate the equipment.

The space had not been renovated since 2009, so it was due an upgrade. Much of the equipment in use carried the hallmark of the analogue age from which it originated. With a large budget to play with, the brief was to revamp and build on these foundations to create a guided display with an updated, immersive feel – interactivity was the name of the game. This required a complete overhaul of the video and audio systems, as well as the networked elements.

Stage Audio Works and Formula D_ collaborated to devise a premium solution across the board. The video element comprised the lion’s share of the integration, including visual displays of all shapes and sizes. Thirteen Christie laser projectors were implemented across the museum. These are driven by a Christie’s Pandoras Box media server: a turnkey solution with a versatile render engine that facilitates projection on to any surface. This is utilised for some of the larger interactive exhibits, including an object theatre zone, where three projectors deliver a multi-screen immersive experience. Another key attraction is a 10m display closet. Stage Audio Works’ chief technology officer, Nathan Ihlenfeldt, says: “Previously, the interactive element was supported by touch foils situated behind the glass, which were technically limiting and unsightly. We replaced this with a laser scanner that picks up multiple touchpoints across the cabinet, which works far better.” Additionally, almost 40 iiyama touchscreen panels were installed throughout the space to provide tactile interaction for Formula D_’s bespoke set designs.

Each kiosk is supported by a Lenovo P330, an efficient and powerful workstation that pushes the envelope with its ultra-compact design. Ihlenfeldt adds: “We’re particularly proud of the design of the server racks. The previous system required 5U per exhibit; we’ve reduced the number of racks in the server room from 11 40U server racks to four. On top of that, each PC requires 80W, so this new system runs on between an eighth and a tenth of the power consumption of the previous system – a testament to an all-round efficient integration.”

Specialising in bespoke solutions, RenderHeads wrote all the software used for the kiosks with a custom content management system. Taking the custom route allowed the UK-based company to better optimise the apps to work with the PCs, ensuring fast and responsive content. The system’s CMS was designed to facilitate easy content changes for future exhibits, with flexibility and scalability being major considerations. Stage Audio Works installed numerous GPI connections to tie in various physical elements for the exhibits, including lighting and headsets for guided tours.

Stage Audio Works also implemented an exceptional audio system to match the video. For the primary directional loudspeakers, several Genelec 4430As were selected, plus a 7360A subwoofer for low-end support. Genelec’s Smart IP technology helps streamline the installation, with PoE technology drastically reducing the cabling required, for a more aesthetic result. The loudspeakers integrate seamlessly within a Dante AoIP network so that each one can be configured remotely and separately if required. A couple of the directional loudspeakers were repurposed after being upgraded to be Dante compatible. The entire system is managed via a Q-Sys system, with Netgear switches handling the audio and video distribution across the network.

Michael Wolf, Formula D_’s founder and chief executive, says: “We were super impressed with Stage Audio Works’ professionalism and collaboration with us on this project. Together, we’ve delivered a complete audio-visual overhaul that has helped reimagine the museum’s approach to storytelling using more interactive and impactful methods. We are confident that the system will be able to scale to meet any demands future installations might bring, whether that be new software or hardware.”

“We’ve built up a strong working relationship with Formula D_ over the course of a few projects, as we deliver complementary services,” says Ihlenfeldt. “For MOSTI, they took the lead with the interactive and immersive vision, and we helped to materialise it from a technical perspective. Aside from some unavoidable delays caused by Covid restrictions, everything went to plan, from the design stage through to the implementation and maintenance.”

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