AUSTRALIA : NEW TECHNOLOGY TO EXPLORE ST. MACKILLOP

Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
30 Jan 2012


New interactive technogy a feature of
exhibition at Mary MacKillop Place
Cutting edge technology will give schools, children and the general public a unique way to explore the story of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph.
After more than two years in the planning and preparation, the new expanded gallery space at North Sydney's Mary Mackillop Place Museum with its innovative interactive "touch table" will open on Wednesday 1 February.
Designed as a permanent exhibition, it will nevertheless continue to expand and be updated over the months and years in what Curator of the Museum, Edwina Huntley describes as a "living breathing space."
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
Made possible by a $20,000 grant in 2010 under the Commonwealth Government's "Commemorating Eminent Australians Program," the interactive display using the latest in technology offers a wide-ranging in depth information resource for Australians of all ages.

"By using this innovative mapping and display technology, students, teachers, pilgrims, visitors and tourists will gain new insights into the essence of Mary MacKillop, who is one of Australia's great pioneering women and a strong believer in education for all," says Edwina.
The basic feature of the exhibition begins with what looks like a very large coffee table. It is in fact a unique "large table format" computer which operates without the usual devices such as a keyboard or a mouse. Instead the sturdy table top perspex-covered screen responds to the touch - in much the same way a smart phone operates responds. But what is even more exciting is that the screen reacts not only to one person's touch or gesture but has the ability to respond individually to multiple users.

Interactive technology means many people
can use the device at any one time
"With 50 points of contact, the table-top screen is able to interact with many different people and objects at the same time," says Edwina. "The technology also has the ability for a person to place and move physical objects across the surface of the table and have the computer recognise these objects and interact with the user through these."
Responses are given through sound as well as via visually engaging and active graphics with the entire program designed to educate and make learning fun, informative and exciting.
Designed into four modules, with particular attention paid to school curriculum requirements, the multi-touch exhibition at Mary MacKillop Place Museum will prove fascinating to both Catholics and non Catholics and to anyone interested in history or education with graphic answers given to questions ranging from details of an 1875 school curriculum to the history of a township where the Josephites established a school in the second half of the 19th Century.
The Mary MacKillop Place Museum is open daily from 10 am until 4 pm. For more information on the new exhibition visit: http://www.marymackillopplace.org.au/museum/index.asp
http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2012/2012130_1916.shtml

Comments

MLM said…
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MLM