Diseases through world history

The premise for this project was to create an interactive space based on existing exhibitions in the science museum Steno.

The goal of the concept is to create a general overview of the development of epidemics and pandemics over time and location, in addition to a list of medicinal innovations and cultural events that influenced this development. The overview is meant as an augmented layer on top of the detailed information, already available through Steno’s showcases and textual information in the exhibtion.

We developed a functional prototype in an exhibition called “Epidemic Room”. A rounded table was placed central to the showcases in the room, with a large knob (~1 foot across). Around the knob we placed larger circular timeline representing the years 500 AD through 2012, along with medicinal innovations and other important events. By turning the knob the user adjusts what year that is active. On the floor by every showcase two large circles are projected, representing infected (yellow) and dead (red) people, within the active year.

Next to the knob a physical world map is placed. The continents are tangible with has build in RFID-tags, which are to be placed on top of the knob, to activate a specific part of the world.