Sketching in hardware is commonly used to test ideas quickly as it allows non- technical users to experience what can be created with technology within a limited amount of time. Sketching in hardware activities are usually facilitated by a designer and/or a technical expert.
Showcasing the .Net Gadgeteer
Demonstrating the soldier’s bag
As part of the first meSch consortium meeting, we wanted the different partners (cultural heritage professionals, designers, technologists etc.) to experience what interactive exhibits could be created by non-technical users with existing off the shelf hardware prototyping and DIY technology within a very limited amount of time.
First, the modular rapid prototyping platform .NET Gadgeteer was demonstrated to the entire group. The project team members were divided in groups of 4-5 participants, each group consisting of a mix of cultural heritage professionals, designers and technologists. The groups were given the challenge to devise an interactive experience for a museum. Collaborative work then took place in teams – discussing concepts, sketching on paper, sketching in hardware (with the aid of .NET Gadgeteer experts) in order to develop prototypes. Finally each group presented their idea and prototype to the other groups.
Based on the ideas shared by a curator, technologists and designers, one group produced a prototype for a soldier’s bag using the .NET Gadgeteer modules, inspired by one of the project partner museums collection – Museo Storico Italiano della Guerra. The concept envisaged a quest designed for young visitors throughout the museum in search for a set of replica objects related to the World War I. A small display showed the list of objects to be found. As the objects were retrieved and put in the bag, they disappeared off the list. The quest was complete when the list contained no more items. Another important outcome was to engage non-technical participants in exploring technology and learn about the possibilities it can offer.
Download the how-to sheet here.
