PO-MOtion Interactive Software and a CONTEST!

I'm a bit of a skeptic in terms of how technology is applied (or more often mis-applied!) in museum exhibitions, as most people who read this blog know.

But occasionally I come across a clever person or company who makes me appreciate more of the possibilities inherent in applying technology in a thoughtful way to museum environments.   So I'm happy to introduce you to just such a person ---  Meghan Athavale, the CEO of PO-MO, a company based in Winnipeg.

Meghan was kind enough to tell me a little about her company's PO-MOtion software which lets even non-tech whizzes create low cost, easy to use interactive floor and/or wall projection environments.  (You can see the software in action by watching the video at the top of this post or by clicking here.)

Better yet, Meghan let this tech skeptic "test drive" the software for myself.  I can say from experience that the software is simple to set up, straightforward to use, and FUN!  The software works with Macs or PCs, and there is even an IR version that interfaces with the X-Box Kinect sensor.  (I was even able to make the PO-MOtion software work with my 5 year old laptop!) 

Two things that set PO-Motion apart from similar projection environments you might have seen are: the low-entry point, price-wise, for creating a complete hardware/software set-up, and the ease of using your own internal staff to put either "prepackaged" scenes, or your own custom scenes, into action.

Now, here's where the CONTEST comes in!

Meghan and PO-MO are offering one grand prize winner a custom designed scene (valued up to $1,000.00!)  Not only can you create a cool tech space in your exhibit halls, but you'll get to create something with Meghan and the PO-MO crew that is unique to your museum.


Anyone can enter in three easy steps:

1) Download the free 30-day trial software and two demo scenes from the PO-MOtion website.

2) Publish a public video of yourself using PO-MOtion on YouTube. The video must have the words PO-MOtion Interactive Floor and Wall Software in the title.

3) Email the YouTube video link to: info@po-motion.com with the subject line I Love PO-MOtion.


Legalistic boilerplate: 

• The contest is open until July 31st, 2012

• The video with the most views by July 31st, 2012 will win a custom designed scene, valued up to $1,000.00

• The contest is open to museums anywhere in the world. Verification will be required prior to issuing any prize.

• The grand prize winner will be announced August 5th, 2012. 


So what are you waiting for?  You've got a month to strut your stuff and have a chance to win a cool prize for your museum!


Thanks again to Meghan and PO-MO for offering this opportunity to ExhibiTricks readers.


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The Night Circus and The Fusion Museum

Last week I woke up in the middle of the night in a hotel room with "The Night Circus" and ideas of a "Fusion Museum" whizzing around my head.

Fusion is a great concept --- the idea of taking a number of different things and combining them into one entity.  It's no surprise then that "fusion" can meaningfully turn up whether you're talking about music, art, cooking, or science.  And notions of "fusion" and Erin Morgenstern’s brilliant novel "The Night Circus" might actually both point toward new ways of thinking about what museums can do, and how.

(A slight diversion first to say a few words about The Night Circus:  it is a novel that sucks you in from the start; the structure of interconnected stories and narrative pathways echo the structure of the titular circus itself.   And what a circus it is!  I kept thinking: "this would make a great exhibit" or "it would be cool to create an environment that lets visitors do this."

Obviously, The Night Circus is a novel, not a museum how-to manual, but museum folks will find much to enjoy, and think about here.)


There have been interlocking ideas in the zeitgeist of how passive audiences --- in theater, in museums, in consumer culture --- can become more active participants.  These ideas have been bubbling up and taking hold in museums, especially the elements of Maker culture and immersive theater.  I'm not talking about only event or program driven museums here, but rather places that are combining exhibits, programs, and environments in new and artful ways.

The City Museum seems like a good example of one possible type of fusion museum to me --- it crosses between art, science, and history in its content and it allows visitors to move through a wide variety of spaces and experiences at their own pace.  Turn a corner guided by the smell of toast and you might find yourself in an exhibition about toasters.  (With a volunteer at the back offering to make you a piece of toast using a vintage toaster.)

Several museums have partnered with the folks behind MAKE magazine and the Maker Faires to create experiences for their audiences to actively explore ideas, tools, and materials.  In addition to Maker Faires (and mini-Maker Faires) which pop up and pitch their tents (like the Circus!) and then move on to the next venue, museums have been looking for ways to develop permanent exhibition spaces that move beyond the traditional make-and-take areas using recycled materials.

Notable examples of spaces that give visitors the space (both intellectually and architecturally) to play with ideas and materials include The Tinkering Studio at the Exploratorium and MAKESHOP at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.  These spaces are not driven solely by content (although content is clearly there) but rather by process.

If you're thinking of the possibilities of fusing participatory workshops and programs with exhibition spaces a Maker-oriented space should definitely be on your agenda.  A word of caution however, fusion spaces and experiences require a certain amount of "care and feeding."  If your organization doesn't yet have the internal capacity to maintain and evolve the things you set into motion, they will eventually stagnate, if not outright fail.

If you go to any museum conference or gathering of museum professionals, you will inevitably here the term "immersive environment" come up.  But like most buzzwords, the real question is "Yes, but what does that actually mean in practice?"  I would contend that if you are looking for a fusion of interesting objects, evocative environments, and passionate theatrical storylines and techniques, that you would be well served to consider the work of the UK group Punchdrunk.  (Interestingly, Erin Morgenstern recognizes Punchdrunk in the acknowledgments to The Night Circus ...)

In their own words:  "Punchdrunk has pioneered a game changing form of immersive theatre in which roaming audiences experience epic storytelling inside sensory theatrical worlds. Blending classic texts, physical performance, award-winning design installation and unexpected sites, the company's infectious format rejects the passive obedience usually expected of audiences.

Lines between space, performer and spectator are constantly shifting. Audiences are invited to rediscover the childlike excitement and anticipation of exploring the unknown and experience a real sense of adventure. Free to encounter the installed environment in an individual imaginative journey, the choice of what to watch and where to go is theirs alone."

Punchdrunk currently has a show in New York called "Sleep No More" which uses Shakespeare's Macbeth as its starting point.  Participants (not merely audience members) move through an old hotel and explore spaces or interact with actors in a non-linear way.  Put simply, Punchdrunk's work will leave you discombobulated, but in a good way.  More importantly for museum people, and especially exhibit designers, attending a Punchdrunk performance will force you to reexamine your notions of what is possible inside exhibitions and museums --- how much freedom people can have to explore ideas and spaces simultaneously.  If you are near NYC and you hurry you still might be able to get tickets!

I would be remiss if I didn't insert a sincere tip of the hat here also to Seb Chan and his blog post,  "An exhibition is a mixtape"  which seems to cross over into a (perhaps?) related notion for a radical shift in the making of museum exhibitions (and he also name-checks "Sleep No More" in his blog for good measure!)

So here the blog post comes to an end.  Is there something to the notion of creating "fusion" experiences in museums that woke me up in the middle of the night or was it all a bit of a fever dream?



Creating your own experiments in museum fusion?  Tell us more in the comments section below, or send me an email directly.  I'd love to hear more about these sorts of ideas. 

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

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The Exhibit Doctor's Next Case: Wrangling iPads

After several queries recently about how best to deploy iPads in exhibitions, I thought I'd set up another case for The Exhibit Doctor.  (You can see some previous Exhibit Doctor postings --- one on temporary walls and mounting solutions and another on exhibit label "flipbook" solutions by clicking on the links.)

The way these Exhibit Doctor posts have been working is that I gather some background information about the topic, and then solicit input (especially practical "visitor tested" examples) from ExhibiTricks readers and then do a follow-up post containing the collected images, examples, links, and wisdom into one convenient package.

First off, there are a variety of commercial "frames" that lock and/or contain iPads (such as these) but most of them have limitations --- slots that visitors cram stuff into, or designs that still leave ports or the "home" button exposed in some way.  That doesn't mean that there aren't "off the shelf" solutions out there (somewhere!) that people have used or liked.  Let us know your favorite iPad protection device in the "Comments" section below, or by emailing me directly.

Secondly, there are "home-brewed" possibilities for locking down iPads that could be created that both prevent theft and mischief to the apps and iOS.  Have some tricks that worked well for you?  Let us know about those as well.

Lastly, perhaps the best way to utilize tablet/touch technology in exhibitions is not to lock down the devices at all, but instead to use them in staff-moderated ways.  I'd love to hear about success stories for facilitated ways to use iPads that go beyond merely helping people use vaguely-related apps next to a physical exhibit component.

So that's the plan --- send your practical examples of how to use iPads in exhibitions my way via the "Comments" section or email, and stay tuned for the follow-up post that collects all the ideas in one place!


Speaking of which --- don't miss out on any future ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

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ReWind: The Cake Boss is a Great Prototyper!

What could an expert cake baker teach you about prototyping your exhibit design projects?

Find out by reading our latest ReWind posting below.  (And if you need help "cooking up" some ways to improve your museum's prototyping practice, feel free to contact me directly!)



Learning to be a good exhibit prototyper is a lot like learning to be a good swimmer or a good baker.  You could read about any of those skills, but to really catch the nuances and notice the little tricks, it helps to watch somebody else model the techniques a few times before you start out yourself.

So where can you find a TV show with a funny Italian guy on the East Coast to teach you some great prototyping approaches? (No, not me!  But feel free to contact me if you'd like me to run some in-person prototyping workshops or exhibit test sessions with the staff and visitors at your museum.)

No, I was actually thinking of Buddy Valastro, better known as the "Cake Boss" from the cable TV show of the same name.  I'm serious --- this guy is an ace prototyper!

So what are some things you can learn about exhibit prototyping by watching a few episodes of Cake Boss?


1) Know your customer
Before Buddy starts making a specialty cake, he sits down and has a conversation with the client to find out more about the things they like, and to bounce initial ideas around.

Obviously, you won't be having a chat with everyone who comes to your museum, but how can you leverage your museum's social media sites (like Facebook or Twitter) or your newsletter to let visitors know you'll be working on new exhibits, and would like their ideas?  Similarly, asking for help as you test out actual physical prototypes inside the museum is fun and exciting for visitors, and you can learn a lot from the conversations and comments around such prototyping sessions.



2) Prototyping can be a team sport
Usually after some initial sketches and rough ideas about a cake are prepared, Buddy gathers his team to solicit input for things to try, and for which sections of the cake people would like to work on.  Lots of little ideas and input from the bakers and designers result in cool cakes like the "Aquarium Cake" below that includes a real fish-filled tank behind it!

Similarly, when you're putting together ideas and changes for prototype exhibits, give your staff a sense of ownership and pride in the process by soliciting input and showing that even if you haven't incorporated every single idea into the final product, you were willing to sincerely try things out. 



3) Stay loose, and keep a good supply of "stuff" nearby
Don't give up on "crazy" ideas --- even if they seem impossible at first.  The Cake Boss crew wanted to make a cake for retired fire fighters.  Once they knew that their intended audience (firefighters) wouldn't be satisfied with just a plain cake, they started talking about fire engines with flashers and a building/cake with smoke billowing out.  That's great, but how do you do it?   Buddy sent somebody out to buy some toy fire engines and a theatrical smoke machine to create the finished cake. (He stripped out all the electronics from the toy and incorporated them into an edible fire truck cake.)

To be able to realize the exhibit equivalent of a "Fire Engine Cake" be willing to throw some crazy ideas against the wall to see what sticks.  But to prototype those wacky ideas it helps to have some simple building stuff (masking tape, paper, cardboard, markers, etc.) handy so you don't lose the enthusiasm and momentum of the moment.



4) Sometimes you drop the cake

Occasionally, something catastrophic (cakeastrophic?) happens on the Cake Boss show. Somebody drops a finished cake down a flight of stairs.  Someone else delivers the wrong wedding cake.  Yes, there may be some yelling, but after everyone calms down they take a deep breath and figure out how to solve the problem.

Sometimes, try as you might,  a favorite exhibit idea is a flat out bust.  Or you follow an idea into a dead end.  Fuhgedaboutit!  There will be prototyping flubs, and exhibit mistakes.  Admit up-front that there will be unexpected challenges to resolve.  That's part of the fun (but leave some time and money in your budget for remediation...)


Now I hope I've inspired you to watch a little Cake Boss and to do a little more prototyping in your museum.  Hey! Maybe TLC should start a new show --- Exhibit Boss!


Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Automatic ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

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Exhibit Design Toolkit: Sonic Sites

Sometimes a design project needs the perfect sonic punctuation --- the sound of a zombie munching a brain, or an elephant's trumpet, for example --- to feel complete.

It's been a while since we've done a post on websites that offer sound effects and other aural delights for designers, so find below a new batch of sites that can supply just about anything you might need for your next sonicly-oriented design project:

Soundcli.ps  is a great website that allows users to share or download audio clips.

SoundBible.com offers thousands of free sound effects, sound clips, and straight-up sounds.

AudioFormat.com allows you to convert audio file to other formats online using nothing more than your browser, and it's a free resource allowing you to convert wav to mp3, mp3 to wav, video to mp3, wmv to wav, wav to wmv, and more.

Free-Loops.com serves as an online audio toolbox that you can access anytime.

SoundJax.com is a semi-autonomous sound search platform that indexes and renders waveforms, tags, and catalogs audio from the Web.

So give the sites above a try (and a listen!) and let us know what you think, or tell us if you have another "sonic site" to recommend in the "Comments" Section below.

(Special thanks to Trixie Lee from Soundcli.ps for suggesting we let ExhibiTricks readers know about these Web resources.)


Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Automatic ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

P.S. If you receive ExhibiTricks via email (or Facebook or LinkedIn) you will need to click HERE to go to the main ExhibiTricks page to make comments or view multimedia features (like videos!)