Electronic Art, a Cincinnati interactive agency specializing in touch-screen kiosks, digital signage and integrated websites, has integrated two large-scale digital touchscreen displays into the Cincinnati Library's exhibit showcasing the restored Cincinnati Riverfront Panorama of 1848 daguerreotype. (The daguerreotype, invented in 1839 as the first practical method of photography, captured images with a high resolution.)
The library's daguerreotype consists of eight slides covering two miles of Cincinnati's riverfront in 1848. Charles Fontayne and William Porter took the photographs on a rooftop in Newport, Ky., across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.
According to a press release, Electronic Art installed two 52-inch flat-panel interactive touchscreens that allow library visitors to view the images in high definition and zoom in, much like on an iPad, to see the detail and clarity of the photographs. Visitors will also be able to touch certain areas on the screen to learn more about the photo, view life in mid-19th century Cincinnati, and gain more insight into the city's then-developing neighborhoods.
"The Library has had this daguerreotype for a long period of time, and we knew we had to showcase it, Jason Buydos, Cincinnati Library assistant director of support services and project manager for the daguerreotype display, said in the release. "The question was, how do we display it in a way that both protects it and also enables people to appreciate the historic value and relevance of this remarkable piece of Cincinnati history. That's where Electronic Art came in. Together we came up with a flat touchscreen display that would allow visitors to tap on the screen to zoom in for a closer look and more information. I am very happy with the result."
Electronic Art also contracted with Harlan Graphic Arts Services, who helped build the enclosure.
"We enjoyed the challenge of using a multi-touch interface on a grand scale to enable guests to interact with the art," Tim Burke, president of Electronic Art, said in the release. "Our staff faced many challenges, such as working with large file sizes. We had to implement high-end machines with 12GB of memory, and determine a technique to allow the best interaction with the high-resolution images. A database enables staff to add points of interest in an overlay layer within the Adobe Flash-based application, which brings a rich educational component."
