Chicago aquarium adds kiosks, digital signage in $50 million renovation project
July 22, 2009
Chicago's Shedd Aquarium has implemented a $50 million renovation to its popular Oceanarium exhibit, which now features two interactive kiosks developed by media design firm Mightybytes.
According to news from the Digital Signage Expo, one of the kiosks features a maneuverable claw that visitors can use to pick up items such as shells and stones embedded with RFID tags that trigger education animation on the kiosk's screen. The other kiosk is housed in a small submarine and allows visitors to select different ocean animals, which activates a sonar screen that produces an educational video about the animal.
Tim Frick, the founder of Mightybytes, says the company was thrilled to have participated in the renovation:
 | When you're working on a project-within-a-project such as this, there are so many variables to work with — it can get really complicated. But that's also what makes it so fun. We're proud to have had a part, even a small part, in this exciting renovation. |  |
In addition to the kiosks, Mightybytes developed an animated video of a South African penguin habitat that is displayed on a 25-foot by 15-foot screen on a custom rockscape.