Creating an open geospatial kinetic wall for science mediation: Preliminary results from the GeoWall project

Abstract

GeoWall is an innovative interactive physical wall based on advanced Open technologies that enables the dissemination of scientific contents to a wide public. The system, in line with Open Science principles, aims to promote the link between science, local impacts, education and global context so that the intrinsic value of university is clearly communicated and understood to citizens. GeoWall is though to be an interactive panel that combines touch technology, web services, visualization on maps, multimedia contents and digital graphics in a lightweight kinetic structure realized with digital manufacturing techniques. In the front a touch screen and multiple moving screens will display the information while in the back a panel worked with the numeric control milling machine will represents the scientific data element. The system is designed to use open technologies as much as possible including Open Software and Open Hardware. The touch screen enables user interaction by selecting global challenges and local impacts represented on a dynamic map. When interaction is activated additional information is communicated trough smaller moving screens representing different multimedia sources and formats. Although the system is not yet completed, the first tests are very promising and already give clear indications on the appropriateness of the selected concept and realized hardware and software.