The Rom Moves Forward

Back on February 8th the Interactive multimedia students from IMM at Sheridan took a trip to The Rom. Unfortunate for myself I not only woke up late but my train was 25 minutes late so by the time I had shown up I had missed most of what the tour was about. But I did manage to catch some exciting stuff at the end.

Brian Porter, the New media director of The Rom was nice enough to run us through some of the things they were working towards. A team of two people are working to digitize as much of the artifacts as possible. It has the potential to open new worlds for both The Rom and many of the people around them. It opens new ways of learning. The tour started off in what I understand to be a digital gallery which was designed to give children and possibly adults an interactive learning experience. The room was filled with touch screen computers and a large projection screen at the front of the room. The computers gave the audience the choice between Egyptian or Canadian historical explorations. In the sections they could pick from artifacts that had been scanned and rotate them in 3d space as well as learn the history and fact about the item. I find this a great way to learn and relate both a wide range of info to real life artifacts.

We than moved on to the new Dino exhibit housed in the new “crystal” extension. This alone was worth the trip not only did I find a long lost relative but I also saw new ways The Rom was bringing technologies in to help make the experience more enjoyable. Three kiosks were spread through out the exhibit. They were comprised of large wide touch screens. Imagery is used to clearly explain the facts about the dinosaurs. For example Images with a T-rex on one end of the scale with its weight of people on the other. I’m a fan of this kind of implementation of the technology . It’s easier to grasp the concepts and much more amusing than standing there reading the 8pt writing on the cards.

I had a great time, although I had missed quite a bit of the tour but I still enjoyed myself and suggest if you’re in the Toronto area and you haven’t been than well …go.