Interactive Touchscreens
October 2010 - February 2012
October 2010 - February 2012
Also known as The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, The Mob Museum is the first historical museum for the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. I was a member of a small team of contractors who worked in conjunction with Snibbe Interactive for clients Westlake Reed Leskosky (WRL) and Barrie Projects.
Over the course of 14 months I created the user interfaces and graphic design of 15 separate touchscreen exhibits. Each one harmonized with the subject and art direction of the surrounding physical space, which resulted in a body of work as far-ranging and eclectic as the museum itself.
The touchscreens were large 1920 x 1080 monitors, so I was able to create life-sized images of real-world objects, making the exhibits more intuitively interactive to museum visitors.
Over the course of 14 months I created the user interfaces and graphic design of 15 separate touchscreen exhibits. Each one harmonized with the subject and art direction of the surrounding physical space, which resulted in a body of work as far-ranging and eclectic as the museum itself.
The touchscreens were large 1920 x 1080 monitors, so I was able to create life-sized images of real-world objects, making the exhibits more intuitively interactive to museum visitors.
Women and the Mob
A film noir feel was needed for this exhibit which displayed short video biographies of the women associated with Las Vegas mobsters. I created a cafe table beside a sunny window, and animated the shadows of passersby occasionally moving across the photos to give the setting immediacy. The user touches a photo, which enlarges and then flips over to reveal a video window and short caption.
A film noir feel was needed for this exhibit which displayed short video biographies of the women associated with Las Vegas mobsters. I created a cafe table beside a sunny window, and animated the shadows of passersby occasionally moving across the photos to give the setting immediacy. The user touches a photo, which enlarges and then flips over to reveal a video window and short caption.
Spot the Scam
This is a short game in which the user tries to catch a gambling scam happening in each of six surveillance camera feeds. Whether or not they are correct, a larger video window appears and a video plays which explains the scam. This room of the museum recreates Las Vegas in its Rat Pack heyday, so my exhibits in this area used a mod, retro-pop style.
This is a short game in which the user tries to catch a gambling scam happening in each of six surveillance camera feeds. Whether or not they are correct, a larger video window appears and a video plays which explains the scam. This room of the museum recreates Las Vegas in its Rat Pack heyday, so my exhibits in this area used a mod, retro-pop style.
Betting on the Future - Player's Screen
This room explored the early years of Las Vegas, up to the 1930s. This screen and the one below are part of a four-seat exhibit. The inspiration behind this game were 20th century penny arcades. They were wooden cabinets with brass fittings, glowing paper screens and bakelite buttons, so these are the textures I simulated.
Up to four users can play the game, which is a series of trivia questions about Las Vegas history. The players bet on their confidence in their answer, and the person with the most money at the end of the game wins. When the player pushes his Bet button, the coin shoots up and into the center screen.
This room explored the early years of Las Vegas, up to the 1930s. This screen and the one below are part of a four-seat exhibit. The inspiration behind this game were 20th century penny arcades. They were wooden cabinets with brass fittings, glowing paper screens and bakelite buttons, so these are the textures I simulated.
Up to four users can play the game, which is a series of trivia questions about Las Vegas history. The players bet on their confidence in their answer, and the person with the most money at the end of the game wins. When the player pushes his Bet button, the coin shoots up and into the center screen.
Betting on the Future - Center Screen
The four player monitors are arranged around this screen. The coins from their monitors slide along the curved chutes and end in the center "pot." A physics emulator made the coins interact with each other in a realistic way. At the end of the round, the lights behind the pot area flash and the winners' coins rack up in the coin slots.
The four player monitors are arranged around this screen. The coins from their monitors slide along the curved chutes and end in the center "pot." A physics emulator made the coins interact with each other in a realistic way. At the end of the round, the lights behind the pot area flash and the winners' coins rack up in the coin slots.
A Seat at the Table - Menu
This exhibit is made of several monitors laid end-to-end to form a long banquet table. Members of the Mob frequently used restaurants for conducting their business, so this screen rather literally offers a menu of cities from which the user can choose in order to read about Mob activities. Once the user picks a city, the menu is withdrawn and the information is served up on the plate.
This exhibit is made of several monitors laid end-to-end to form a long banquet table. Members of the Mob frequently used restaurants for conducting their business, so this screen rather literally offers a menu of cities from which the user can choose in order to read about Mob activities. Once the user picks a city, the menu is withdrawn and the information is served up on the plate.
A Seat at the Table - Plate
The plate offers a selection of topics about each city. The candle is a looping animation which reacts to touch by flickering wildly.
The plate offers a selection of topics about each city. The candle is a looping animation which reacts to touch by flickering wildly.
Mob Monikers
This exhibit emulates a police station wall; there are three bulletin boards which can be accessed by touching the left or right sides of the screen. When the user touches a mugshot, a clipboard rises which displays a short biography of the mobster. There is a game hidden as an Easter Egg behind a postcard, matchbook cover, or playing card on each board. When those are touched, the board jostles as if it was bumped, and all the yellow sticky notes fall to the bottom tray. A police sergeant's voice exhorts the user to clean up the mess by dragging the notes back to their correct mugshots.
This exhibit emulates a police station wall; there are three bulletin boards which can be accessed by touching the left or right sides of the screen. When the user touches a mugshot, a clipboard rises which displays a short biography of the mobster. There is a game hidden as an Easter Egg behind a postcard, matchbook cover, or playing card on each board. When those are touched, the board jostles as if it was bumped, and all the yellow sticky notes fall to the bottom tray. A police sergeant's voice exhorts the user to clean up the mess by dragging the notes back to their correct mugshots.
Surveillance Photo Analysis
User examines a surveillance photo and picks the correct suspect from a collection of mugshots. The magnifying glass is a draggable object that shows a zoomed-in version of the surveillance photo.
User examines a surveillance photo and picks the correct suspect from a collection of mugshots. The magnifying glass is a draggable object that shows a zoomed-in version of the surveillance photo.
