• Chair Plinth; This was made for the artist Janek Schaefer, it consisted of an aluminium plinth 3m x 1m x .5m onto which four wire frame representations of chairs were mounted, each chair is linked to a motor which spins them on one leg. The exhibit used a PIR device to count people and upon reaching twenty, starts the chairs spinning for approximately 2 minutes, when the chairs stop a sound store plays a ‘sighing’ noise. The piece was displayed at the RIBA as part of the ‘Fused’ exhibition.

• Flip Clocks; We modified 10 clocks for the artist Darren Almond. Into each clock we designed and fitted a break beam sensor mechanism to detect the flap falling. This then triggered a digital sound store, which played an amplified recording of the flap falling.
• Giant Flip Clock; As above but fitted to a giant version of the clock made by the Reserve Warehouse. The sound level was boosted with a stereo amplifier fitted inside the clock. This clock was on display at the Royal Academy of Arts as part of their 'Sensation' exhibition

• Video Egg; A giant truncated egg (1.5m high 1.4m dia) was made for the artist Max Wigram. The egg contains a 21" monitor facing the ceiling, a VHS video player an amplifier and speakers. The artist is going to produce videos with restful music to be played by the egg with the images on the screen loosely projected on the ceiling and walls to give a new experience to music listening. The egg has been padded with fire retardant foam and covered in black lycra.

• Cell Reproduction; An existing exhibit at the Wellcome Trust in Euston. We repaired the mechanics of the exhibit and redesigned the control electronics to utilise a TMS 7000 microcontroller as specified by the Museum. The exhibit was reinstalled in the Museum, remounted with bolt on brackets for ease of removal for maintenance, and a new Perspex case fitted.
• Cell Nucleus; An existing exhibit at the Wellcome Trust in Euston. We redesigned the control electronics to utilise three TMS 7000 devices as specified by the Museum. The electronics controls approximately 1600 LED's giving the appearance of light strings (biological messages) moving in several directions at once. The LED’s are mounted around a bank of four monitors, when the monitors are activated (by a break beam sensor) a video explaining the function of the cell nucleus starts and the LED’s change speed and the number and size of the available strings changes .
• Cell Separation; An existing exhibit at the Wellcome Trust in Euston. The exhibit was redesigned to allow all the control electronics to be housed centrally in the case, as opposed to distributed as before. The exhibit shows the process of diabetes testing in the laboratory.

• Water Wheels; we designed and manufactured four types of water wheel for Science Projects, the types of wheels were overshot, undershot, breast-shot and cross-flow turbine. These wheels were for a water-interactive showing the use of dams and wheels to generate power. The wheels had to be colourful, lightweight and safe; they are on display in Amsterdam.

• Monitor Housings; an ingenious design for the Natural History Museum. The museum uses 21" touch screen monitors and PC's for its visitor information points. The original housing for the equipment made it difficult to remove the monitors for servicing. The new design incorporates a sliding mechanism, allowing easy access and removal.

English Heritage:

Kenilworth Castle, Bolsover Castle, Carisbrooke Castle, Dover Castle, Battle Abbey

• Kenilworth Castle: Orientation in Leicester's Barn

A project for English Heritage, designed by Mark Magidson of Exhibition Plus

This exhibit incorporates a scaled landscape model of the site as it was. Eight small exhibits encircle the model including:

• A backlit landscape with questions and hidden answers which illuminate when buttons are pressed

• A 360 degree view of the landscape using an endoscope

• The siege of 1266, 9 switched backlit cartoons depicting various stages of the siege

• A rotating table including 4 small models showing 4 periods of the castles development

• A revolving drum depicting the progress of Elizabeth I's visit in 1575

• And more

• Dover Castle

  Many interactive exhibits were made for the "Arrival of Henry VIII" exhibition in the Keep of Dover Castle. The fine craftsmanship can be viewed on this page.

• Other Projects for English Heritage

We also undertook projects for Carisbrooke Castle, Bolsover Castle and a colourful hands-on moulded blocks model of the buildings that used to make up Battle Abbey.

• Henley River and Rowing Museum

Interactive Donation Box 

A visitor places money into a donation box, where sensors activate one of four sound effects. The action of placing money into the case also triggers a rowing model immediately above the donation case. The model consists of a 4m x 2.5m x .6m tank with water 35mm deep running inside and four stainless steel oars attached to a stainless steel block. When triggered the oars complete a single rowing revolution through the water, producing a ripple effect. 

Running water is pumped around the system from a header tank and the correct flow is achieved using a flow regulator. A semi-automated process helps with simple periodic recharging and sanitation of the water system.

See Also

• Focal Point Interactive for Boots the Chemists
• Beaufort Scale Model
• The Fan
• CD Spinner for Miss Selfridge
• Video Flowers
• Natural History Museum: Earth Galleries Update (Earth's Treasury)
• You Are Curious sound interactives for Explore@Bristol
• Hi-tech Sliding Doors for Swires
• 'Shaping a Nation' in Edinburgh
• Magna Science Adventure Centre
• Natural History Museum 'Rhythms of Life'