Project: Interactive Fish Tank
Client: Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust Watch a demo: www.wemakestories.com/popBrief
The childrens day care unit at NHS Derriford, Plymouth were looking to enhance their existing facility through interactive artworks and art to create a more child / young person focused environment.
Areas of the facility
The areas within the unit involved consultation, waiting rooms and discharge areas so the work had to be relevant within these environments. It also had to be durable, require minimal maintenance, vandal proof, safe and not constitute a hazard.
Approach
Prior to our appointment, the aquatic theme had been chosen by research groups, so the fish tank was a natural decision as to the form of the artwork.
Due to the age range of young people who pass through the unit, our ideas focused on screen based art works that all age groups can interact with, on there own or as a group.
Any movements trigger changes in the artwork, but when it is not being used it turns into an ambient shoal of fish mode.
A hidden microphone responds to sharp peaks in sound so a clap, or a finger click, or a shout will change the game mode.
The screens where positioned horizontally into a special made unit, with a web cam to track hand and body movements on the screen.
Final solution
Three interactive fish tanks were installed in various locations providing an immersive, open-ended experience that works as an ambient piece with no interaction, but springs into life when people go near it.
A variety of behaviours happen depending if people interact with the tanks or at different times of the day. By waving your hand at the top of the screen, food is released allowing the fish to become more erratic in their movements.
Extra games can be activated by children clapping their hands. This audio reactive menu system reveals a further 5 games which include Bubble popping, fish catcher and a drawing game.