Article

Interactive window lets students see through to the future (Video)

A Florida middle school puts a high-tech twist on a wayfinding and information kiosk.

May 20, 2013 by Natalie Gagliordi — Editor of KioskMarketplace.com, Networld Media Group

It's a common occurrence for providers of interactive touchscreen technology to compare their products to those featured in the sci-fi flick "Minority Report."

What's a little less common is when those comparisons successfully avoid sounding cliché and accurately portray the level of the technology's impact on end-users — something recently accomplished in a project for Florida's Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School.

Through collaboration between the technology provider Vislogix and DXM Marketing, the science-centric middle school installed a 65-inch EZtouch Holographic Window — a 98 percent transparent, holographic thru-glass interactive touch display that gives students, parents and faculty the ability to interact in real time with school-related content and information.

The solution allows for two simultaneous touches for pinch and zoom functionality, along with a custom designed virtual pop-up keyboard enabling visitors to sign in, search for specific faculty members, skim through FAQs, or check out prior class field trip images and upcoming calendar events.

Oliver Ferrier, the chief xperience officer for Vislogix, said the key complexity with the project was designing a solution suitable for a variety of user skill sets.

"The biggest challenges for this project were centered on designing the interactive content in such a way that the kids as well as faculty and parents could intuitively and quickly navigate their way around and through the various segments of information," he said.

The project was named this year's best government/education/non-profit deployment in the self-service interactive kiosk category in the Digital Screenmedia Association's Industry Excellence Awards given out earlier this month in Dallas. Ferrier said reception at the school has been equally positive, with parents, students and faculty engaging with the high-tech display on a regular basis.

"The reception has been great thus far," Ferrier said. "The holographic touchscreen has alleviated lines and foot traffic in the administrative offices while the screen itself has generated significant buzz and a wow factor for the school."

Check out the solution in the video below:

Read more about interactive touchscreen technology.