Defence of Darwin Experience
In 2012, The Pod completed the Defence of Darwin Experience, a purpose-built complex that opened on the 19th of February, 2012, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the bombing of the city during WWII. Following Convergence Design’s concept plan and brief, The Pod produced the entire range of multimedia and interactive content displayed in the Defence of Darwin Experience.
The Experience differs greatly from a typical museum. Offering a multi-sensory cinematic experience, inspired by the events of 19 February 1942 as its showpiece, the entire museum is predicated on oral histories. This unique vantage point is ingrained in all of The Experience’s multimedia, from touch and gesture based interactive displays to the motion-sensor based 12-minute Bombing of Darwin Experience spectacle.
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The Bombing of Darwin Experience
A spectacle of 3D animation, 5.1 surround sound, mechanical devices and extreme widescreen and multiple projection, The Bombing Of Darwin Experience utilises all the latest in cinematic technology to achieve a moving representation of the events that took place in Darwin on the 19th of February, 1942. Using only photographs taken during the period, combined with transcripts of first-hand accounts of the day, The Experience transports visitors back to the day, with every detail as true to historical accounts as possible.
Interactive Museum Content
The Pod produced seventeen distinct multimedia displays for The Defence of Darwin Experience. Each display’s presentation and functionality was dependent on the amount and type of information which needed to be conveyed. A practical, shrewd approach, combined with the The Pod’s technological nous, meant each display, whether based in Flash, HTML and Java or animation, provided ease of use and accessibility for the visitor.
The Character Table
A truly unique story-telling device, this interactive allows visitors to discover 28 different stories of people who were in Darwin on the 19th of February, 1942. Each story is an acted recital of the the actual persons firsthand account, with real photos accompanying each soundtrack.
Consisting of a square table, with 4 touch screens on each corner, the table is essentially a projected map of Darwin. When a character button is pushed, it reveals their location at the time of the bombing. Allowing up to four users at a time, the map also shows the location of important military installations used in Darwin during WWII.
Recording Everyone’s History
Simply a digital recording booth equipped with a camera and microphone, Story Share allows visitors to share their own stories and accounts of Darwin during WWII. A concept in touch with the ethos of the entire exhibit, absolutely anybody is welcome to share their thoughts, contributing to an ever expanding collection of unique histories.
Fully monitored remotely
Due to the complexities of the technology involved in running The Bombing of Darwin Experience theatre, The Pod, in conjunction with DRM Audio Visual, wrote it’s own unique show control software. From a technical perspective, running The Experience meant synchronising the operations of multiple projectors, iglass, specialised lighting, as well as a number of mechanical features such as electronic doors and moving lights. (These needed to be functional twenty times a day, seven days a week, without fail). We also had to control all the display and object lighting within the theatre.
Web & Mobile Production
The Defence of Darwin Experience also embraces a raft of digital technologies to help ensure visitors gain the most from their visit. A free downloadable smart phone application allows the visitors experience to transcend the physical boundaries of the museum, featuring a self-guided tour of nine significant military sites around the greater Darwin area, as well as further video and picture content.
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