Surrey school uses GestureTek in new '21C technology wing'

Tom Hall, 30 July 2010

Farnham Heath End's '21C technology wing', which cost over £500,000, features a GestureTek GroundFX interactive floor projection system and GestureTek Screen Xtreme, installed by Digital Vision AV.

The block took a year to build, and is designed to provide 'complete immersion in an environment where the children can interact wirelessly on any level.'

The idea took root back in 1997, and was promoted by David Hoggins during a presentation evening attended by Chris Woodhead, then the HM Inspector for Schools.

The facility features GestureTek GroundFX interactive floor projection system and GestureTek Screen Xtreme, installed by Digital Vision AV.

GroundFX features interactive 2D and 3D visuals with sound. Both GestureTek displays are administered by a wireless mouse and keyboard.

Limited by the height of the ceiling, Paradigm AV, the GestureTek UK distributors, advised using a Sanyo PCL-XM100L (5000 lumens) LCD projector with a short zoom lens, firing onto a single mirror rig above, which folds the beam vertically downwards to create a 2.5 metres x 1.9 metres floor image.

Screen Xtreme is addressed by an Optoma EX525ST (2500 lumens) ultra short throw projector to provide an 80" image over a distance of under 1 metre. This enables the projector to be kept close to the wall (where the motion detector is recessed) without casting a shadow by the user.

www.digitalvisionav.co.uk