Client
Georgia Capitol Museum
Project
Interactive Exhibit
Project at a glance
- Role: Technical design, programming, installation coordination
- Team: Museum staff + local carpenter
- Environment: Historic building, offline/air-gapped
- Scale: Three synchronized 4K displays with touch overlay
- Budget context: Installation executed on a constrained budget
- Outcome: Permanent exhibit; stable operation in public use
Tags
Engineering, Interactive, System Integration, Installation, Technical Support, TouchDesigner
Installation Construction Breakdown
The Challenge
Design a touch-driven civil-rights exhibit for the Georgia Capitol Museum. It had to run reliably in a historic building with constraints on power, acoustics, and network security. The system needed to be straightforward to maintain and stable for daily public use. Tight installation budget, offline operation (no external network), historic-grade mounting and acoustics, and non-technical staff responsible for daily operation.
My Solution & Approach
Responsible for technical design, interactive programming, and coordination during installation, with ongoing support to keep the system operational over time.
- System design & documentation (Vectorworks): Detailed equipment layouts, I/O diagrams, dimensions, and power requirements to guide fabrication and facilities work.
- Interactive application (TouchDesigner): Custom app controlling three synchronized displays with touch-activated video segments, inactivity timeout, and basic user counting for session logic.
- Installation coordination: Worked with museum staff and a local carpenter to meet building requirements around power, sound management, and standalone network operation.
- Operational continuity: In 2022, replaced the original control PC after an electrical issue with an Intel NUC 11, returning the system to stable, 24/7 operation.
- Troubleshooting guide: Provided a step-by-step guide so staff can restart and recover the system on their own.
- Public launch & placement: Unveiled at the 35th annual state MLK commemoration and retained as a permanent exhibit.
- Audio & physical integration: Embedded speakers, ventilation, and cable management within the custom wood frame to fit the historic environment.
- Offline workflow: Fully self-contained system with on-site update process; no building network dependency.
Exhibit Unveiling Event Invitation
Key Features & Contributions
- Three-screen, touch-responsive installation with synchronized playback.
- Custom TouchDesigner logic for interaction, timeouts, and user tracking.
- Clear technical documentation to support future maintenance.
- On-site integration and testing to meet building and security constraints.
- Operational resilience: Modular components allowed quick hardware replacement after a power event; the system has remained stable in daily use since.
Exhibit Unveiling
Technical Summary
| Inputs | Processors / Hardware Controllers | Protocols / Interconnects | Outputs |
|---|---|---|---|
| PQ Labs Touch Overlay | Intel NUC 11 running TouchDesigner, DATAPATH Fx4 | USB-HID (touch), HDMI | Three 4K displays |
Notes:
- Software: TouchDesigner
- Hardware: Intel NUC 11; PQ Labs touch overlay; DATAPATH Fx4; 3 × Samsung 4K displays
- Architecture: One machine handles both sensor input and playback; the display controller manages distribution and sync.
- Logic: Touch events trigger video segments; the inactivity timer resets the session.
- Rationale: A touch overlay was used over integrated touch displays to meet budget.