Sony short-throw projectors take plunge
‘Moana – My Ocean’ is Auckland Museum exhibit that takes visitors on a journey of discovery from Auckland’s east coast to the Kermadec Islands.
Auckland Museum Exhibition Developer Victoria Travers explained, “We wanted to invite visitors to become marine explorers and embark on a remarkable journey of discovery in our marine environment. On their travels, visitors consider their relationship to the ocean and how they can play a role in reversing the damage being done to the planet.”
‘The Boil Up’ is one installation for the Moana – My Ocean project where visitors are immersed in a Hauraki Gulf Boil Up. The experience was developed using artificial intelligence, and is a realtime living system which allows visitor to explore the behavioural patterns at play during a Hauraki Gulf Boil-Up (where kingfish, sharks and dolphins round up small fish into a bait ball while gannets dive bomb from above).
Travers explained, “The experience is contained in a circular theatre and is made up of a 270° screen. With this in mind we knew we would need four projectors to achieve our goal and to make the experience truly immersive.
“Finding projectors that were extremely short-throw and that provide a great image when used in a multi-channel environment was a real challenge that thankfully was eventually met by Sony’s VPL-SW535 (ultra short throw) projectors.”
The short-throw was required due to the nature of the space but also to ensure that visitors didn’t interrupt the projection or cast shadows. In addition the Moana – My Ocean team were concerned about the short throw angle and how reflected light from the screen may cause hot-spotting and light scattering in the blend regions.
Auckland Museum: www.aucklandmuseum.com
Sony Australia: pro.sony.com.au/projectors