Software and
hardware design
Xor Systems ‘Wellcomed‘ opportunity to work with Science Museum, London
Xor Systems was delighted when it had the opportunity to work with the Science Museum, London, on exhibits within the new Wellcome Wing. Targeted at children under 7 years old, the museum wanted to educate through the innovative and creative use of interactive games.
The games were designed to give the children the opportunity to better understand their own bodies, and how they relate to others. The most stimulating game was ‘Find the Family’ where the youngsters have to match family characteristics. Large, fun, flexible buttons are used on the game; these have faces painted on them, and the game is to match parent and child. Xor's Puppeteer provides the logic behind the game, providing the sound effects and the control of the lamps and switches.
The Museum’s Interactive Development Unit (IDU) knew that ‘Find the Family’ would be the most technologically challenging game. It took the opportunity to involve Jeff Graham, Technical Director at Xor Systems, at a very early stage so that he could advise on both the software and hardware needed for the exhibit, thus saving the cost of unnecessary prototypes. Much of the early design was built as software prototypes and tested thoroughly before any hardware was built.
The museum wanted maximum flexibility and sought a single embedded computer that would run on all games. Jeff took the opportunity to use a ‘Puppeteer’ unit, designed to act as the control computer in exhibits, and designed to be easy to interface to hardware devices. ‘Puppeteer’ allowed the storage of complex sounds and other effects as WAV files, and easy, remote access to enable the exhibit to be changed so that its relevance was maintained.
Puppeteer allowed the museum to add interest, life and drama to the game by the judicious use of lighting, sound and touch.
Puppeteer’s inherent flexibility allowed the designers at the IDU to review, alter and improve the game before commissioning the software or the hardware.
Xor Systems 01453 843033
Science Museum, London, www.sciencemuseum.org.uk