Innovating education in South Africa: Formula D interactive presents a virtual, yet tangible Chemistry Lab.
Formula D Interactive recently developed a Virtual Chemistry Lab, as a safe, low cost alternative to the standard chemistry laboratory in schools. The heart of the system is a so called object recognition table. The interactive platform consists of a 50″ High Definition rear projected screen prepped with lots of computing power. Sophisticated pattern recognition technology allows users to navigate content information by placing physical cards onto the table’s glass surface.
ibali – speaking public furniture design to inspire citizens
ibali is a public furniture design concept designed by Johan du Toit and Michael Wolf from Formula D interactive in their spare time. ibali offers an extra service to city dwellers: It inspires. A recent city branding initiative gave Cape Town the title: City of Inspiration. Cape Town and its citizens are rich with inspirational people and stories that are linked to specific places and streets in Cape Town. ibali – space of inspiration aims at creating islands of inspiration in the city allowing citizens to step out of the stream of everyday life to get a dose of hope and inspiration.
Product design in Cape Town: An interview with Johan du Toit
“Design is an open ended exercise at the best of times, but early involvement narrows the target area. The different design disciplines involved in a project should also work as a team, to align efforts. Branding, communication and product designers often work in isolation from each other leading to an incoherent result.”
The Open Budgets Game: A serious game for civil society organisations
In this Pecha Kucha style talk, Michael Wolf presents the potential of serious games and edutainment to enhance learning. He uses the example of the Open Budgets Game, which has recently been designed by Formula D interactive, Michael’s design company.
Cape Town designers: Join the Cape Town Design Network
The Cape Town Design Network (CTDN) invites you to subscribe to its mailing list. This will ensure that in future you receive all notices of meetings and any relevant information. Go to www.ctdn.co.za to subscribe or follow their Twitter feed. Here’s what CTDN has to say in their recent newsletter: “The Cape Town Design Network [...]
How to design technology tools for the classroom of tomorrow (Part 1)
I recently spoke at a workshop with the title “The South African classroom of the future” at CSIR, Meraka institute in Pretoria. In my presentation “Tools for the classroom of the tomorrow” I discussed the following 4 questions:
- What are technology tools for learning?
- How do technology tools benefit the classroom of today?
- What are the requirements for the design of tools for the classroom of tomorrow?
- What are the key technologies for the classroom of tomorrow?
In this blog post I will deal with the first 2 questions.
Gandhi prison interactive museum project in South Africa seeks funding
The old Burger Street prison in Pietermaritzburg has exceptional historic significance for South Africa and its people. The building is a monument for the ill-treatment of human rights in South Africa during colonial rule and Apartheid regime.
Formula D interactive has been commissioned by Project Gateway to present a conceptual road map for the creation of a state of the art museum within the walls of the prison. Whilst maintaining the original layout and harsh features of the location, the proposed exhibits enhance the authentic experience with information graphics as well as cutting edge multimedia displays.
Technology Education versus Design Education?
It is a chicken-and-egg-question: What drives innovation? Technology or Design? What inspires what and what came first? One can follow an an interesting debate around the subject in a post (and comments) by Bruce Nussbaum in Businessweek. Don Norman has an interesting point when shaking the tree with his statement Technology first, invention second, needs last. But what is actually the essential difference between technology and design?
Opportunities and challenges of digital interactive media in museums and science centres
Museums, Science centres, zoos and aquariums are undergoing a transition with regards to funding, mission and adaptation to a new generation of visitors and their expectations and needs. Digital technology has become part of our everyday lives. Still, it seems that museums, science centres, zoos and aquariums only very slowly embrace new interactive display technology. This text takes a glimpse at the opportunities and challenges of new media technology in these environments offering professionals an overview and inspiration to adapt new technology in their facility.
Gold Loerie Award for interactive digital museum exhibition design
Two of this year’s Loerie Awards were awarded to Formula D interactive and Wireframe Studio for their work on the recently opened Museum of Science and Technology of Islam in Saudi Arabia. Loerie gold was given in the Digital Craft category for the overall design excellence achieved. The outstanding timeline multitouch table was awarded silver. [...]
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