TOUCHSCREEN AND COMPUTER GRAPHICS IN A SCIENCE MUSEUM

Abstract

Scientific information presented by a Science Museum must be both easily understood and easily memorized. Public interest must be maintained at a very high level during the presentation: interaction of the public with the message is greatly desirable. Computer techniques which mix user-friendly software, colour graphics and a touch-screen as the input device satisfy these requirements. This paper describes a scientific "game" designed to teach the player the sensitivity of architecture and climate in indoor comfort and energy consumption. It is based on a micro-computer, the IBM-PC, and a touch-screen and it uses colour graphics to convey information. The software benefits from a three-year experience at La Villette in the design of scientific exhibits for a large public. In this article the cost of software and hardware are mentioned.