RAF Museum
Overview
An interactive debate table made using multiple projectors, 8 touch table foils, Multiple PCs and a Data Server. The table allows for engaging interactive debates for school classes to learn about the pros and cons of different topics in an engaging way.
Technologies:
Unity
Projection Mapping
Touch Table
Multi-Screen
CMS
Case Study
Objectives
We were contracted by the RAF Museum to help get their complex interactive table fully working and then improve on it. They had previously tried working with the original developer and external contractors to fix the table, but were unable to fully get to the bottom of the issues and get them fixed. That’s where we came in, with our knowledge of complex systems and talented programmers, we got to the root cause of the issues and fixed them. We then improved the table by adding extras and expanding capabilities.
The Root Issue
One of the primary issues with the table was its tendency to degrade in performance over time, manifesting as slowdowns, stuttering, and eventual crashes. This necessitated daily system restarts. Furthermore, if a large group utilised the table, it could stall and crash even during a single session.
Following in-depth debugging, the root cause was identified within a third-party plugin responsible for touch interactivity. The plugin was mishandling multi-threading. We successfully patched this issue by implementing multi-thread safe code. Proper multi-threading was crucial because with eight touch screens capable of registering a total of 120 simultaneous touch points, the system frequently needed to process numerous events concurrently, particularly when used by a group of enthusiastic schoolchildren.
Interconnected Systems
There were many systems and equipment that all had to work together in this installation. The Unity software had to span over the 8 segments of the table, which was done via Nvidia Mosaic and two linked GPUs. The sections of the table were made into touch surfaces with the use of 8 touch foils, all calibrated and connected to the main PC. A CMS (Content Management System) system was hosted on a Linux server and provided the data and images to the main table, allowing for the content to be updated and new learning packs to be created. . Given that this entire setup was located on-site at the RAF Museum and in daily use, we created a virtual replica at our office. This virtual environment proved invaluable for debugging the system and thoroughly testing our solutions before deploying them to the public, significantly minimizing downtime.
The Result
In the end, we managed to solve the main issue along with the other problems they had identified and asked us to fix. The client was pleased enough that they raised funding and employed us again to expand on the table’s abilities. Adding quality of life improvements and expanding on the CMS system to allow them to teach different topics.
