DENVER, CO—Visitors to Denver’s new Center for Empowered Living and Learning (The CELL) are plunged into a multimedia experience designed to explore one of the most important issues of our time: the threat of global terrorism. Through museum-wide audio, video, and control systems furnished by Electrosonic, visitors follow The CELL’s dynamic inaugural exhibit, “Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere: Understanding the Threat of Terrorism,” which opened last month.
A non-profit, non-partisan institution, The CELL is dedicated to educating citizens about terrorism. Founded by Larry A. Mizel, The CELL is located within the Denver Civic Center Cultural Complex, adjacent to the new Denver Art Museum.
Through museum-wide audio, video, and control systems furnished by Electrosonic, visitors follow The CELL’s dynamic inaugural exhibit, “Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere: Understanding the Threat of Terrorism,” which opened last month.
The CELL occupies the ground floor under the Museum Residences complex designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. Electrosonic was challenged by the scope of the installation in a relatively small footprint. “The sheer amount of kit in the facility is amazing,” noted project manager Marcelo Videla. “The total contract was for $1.2 million of equipment for 6,000 square feet.”
The first thing seen by visitors to the new museum are three rear-projection screens displaying, in sync, static images of the Faces of Terror— both terrorists and their victims. Electrosonic supplied three NEC WT610 short-throw projectors and Tannoy speakers for the installation along with a Sunrise EXL3000 LED scroller bearing a welcome message.
Visitors advance to the lobby area where they see questions about terrorism and graphics of a gun sight displayed on a wall by a Panasonic PTD3500 projector.
Upon purchasing their tickets visitors are admitted to the first exhibit, Terrorism in Our Times. Electrosonic provided 10 Sharp 20-inch and nine Dell 37-inch LCD screens which show synchronized video documenting the evolution of terrorism and featuring interviews with experts. A 24-track Fostex audio player is slaved to the first screen.
Next, the doors to two contiguous areas open revealing six 37-inch Dell LCD screens playing news footage and eyewitness accounts ofterrorist attacks. Electrosonic also furnished High End Systems light fixtures with custom gobos which sweep the walls and floors with graphic targets and terrorism-related words and phrases. In addition, Electrosonic turnkeyed the technology for two custom kiosks with touchscreens and magnetic card readers. Visitors are issued cards upon admittance; by swiping their cards in these kiosks and others in the exhibit they can follow the story of an individual affected by terrorism.
This area features six 24-inch ELO touchscreens, mounted back to back, which display content about “The Future of Terrorism.”
The next area offers a truly immersive experience with 30 Da-Lite rear-projection screens surrounding the visitors and displaying, in sync, the results of terrorism “Hitting Home.” “I don’t think anyone has ever configured an area like this before,” Videla noted. Electrosonic was tasked with problem-solving to position the screens and the projectors within the given space. Electrosonic also provided 30 NEC WT610 projectors and another Fostex 24-track audio player slaved to the first screen.
Visitors move on to discover how terrorists recruit young people in “Child’s Play.” Three 20-inch Sharp LCD screens play related content in sync; Dakota Audio directional speakers are triggered by motion/presence sensors.
Next, three identical Zytronic touchtable interactive surfaces show how terrorism and individual liberties are “A Delicate Balance”. Electrosonic furnished those displays along with a Panasonic PTD3500 which projects imagery onto a mirror bounce above the touchtables. A 37- inch Dell LCD monitor plays an attract loop above each touchtable. Two more custom kiosks with touchscreens and magnetic card readers, with turnkey technology by Electrosonic, take visitors deeper into the story of the individuals keyed onto their cards.
- The exhibit winds up with experts and world leaders discussing how to combat global terrorism on four custom solid-state computer workstations with touchscreens. The next area features six 24-inch ELO touchscreens, mounted back to back, which display content about “The Future of Terrorism.”
