The Biomuseo offers a journey into the history of Panama through different immersive AV experiences

For the realization of interactive experiences, implemented in the three new galleries, a complete display infrastructure has been installed, composed of more than 20 Led screens. For the management and control of the contents there is a 23 E4100 and other encoders 23 D4100 decoders from Visionary Solutions.

the Biomuseum is one of the jewels in the crown of Panama. Located in a spectacular building created by architect Frank Gehry, hosts a permanent exhibition entitled 'Panama: Bridge of Life'.

In eight galleries, conceived by Bruce Mau ( founder of the Institute Without Limits), this natural history museum explores the changing impact of Panama's creation three million years ago. The elevation of this natural land bridge from the ocean simultaneously connected North And South America while dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea., allowing land mammals to cross continents while dividing ocean ecosystems forever.

The museum opened its doors in 2014 with five of its eight galleries completed and for the remaining three, which are considerably more complex than the first five, Biomuseo addressed to Tellart, a design firm with offices in San Francisco, Amsterdam and Providence.

This was responsible for the design of the interactive elements for these three new spaces: Divided oceans (Oceans Divided), The Living Web and Panama is the museum; as well as an immersive experience for the final gallery. Tellart articulated a narrative that completes the history of the museum's biodiversity. An experiential and spatial journey that guides visitors from the depths of the ocean to the rainforest and, At last, into the air, where a bird's-eye view of Panama forms a celebration of all its natural and cultural diversity.

Three new spaces

Oceans Divided features two huge aquariums that show visitors the differences in plants and animals between the Pacific and Caribbean ecosystems.; and The Living Web takes them to the rainforest.

In each of these samples, visitors learn more through a series of high-definition displays, the vast majority of them interactive.

In Panama it is the museum, visitors walk through an immersive experience that triggers different projections in a large central sculpture based on the place where they step. This experience is completed with digital kiosks that have been installed around the room and allow direct interaction with information. For all these kiosks and information screens, Tellart trusted the firm Visionary Solutions.

Already on the ground floor, visitors enter a compressed space in low light. An immersive soundscape makes them feel like they've just immersed themselves in the ocean. Two monumental aquariums flank the gallery on either side, representing the different oceans that were created when Panama climbed and divided the waters.

Interactive elements in space allow visitors to explore the differences between these two oceans and the unique life forms that inhabit them..

As you climb the stairs to the next gallery, ambient sound passes from deep ocean rumblings to birds and crickets. They are back on land, in a high ceiling space full of light, surrounded by a giant sculpture of the Panamanian rainforest.

A series of audio and interactive stories scattered throughout the gallery complement the sculpture and bring its hidden stories to life..

The museum's adventure culminates in the final gallery. When visitors reach the top of the stairs, they are surprised by a colorful projected floor that extends in front of them. At the center of it all is an iconic Sculpture of Panama.

The visitor has ventured through the museum, moving from the sea to the land and finally the air, giving them a panoramic view of the country's landscape. When stepping on the gallery, visitors interact with the floor, where special points cause waves of movement towards the sculptural map of Panama.

With each wave an image appears on the surface of the sculpture that represents one of the many experiences that the country has to offer.. As more people wander and run around the gallery, the map of Panama is filled with its wealth of natural and cultural diversity.

AV Technology

In these three galleries a wide range of AV equipment has been used. Oceans Divided and The Living Web feature 19 Led touch screens, two of 65 inches are inserted into a custom-made table, two others of the same size are mounted on wall mounts, two of 50 inches are also wall-mounted and nine screens of 27 inches have been used for information kiosks.

This large visual equipment infrastructure also features non-interactive wall-mounted equipment.: two of 65 inches and one of 50.

In addition, The Panama Gallery is the museum has four independent kiosks designed with touch screens of 24 Inch.

“One of the technical requirements of the Biomuseum was that they wanted to control everything from a server room in the basement.. The distances from there to the galleries forced us to devise transmission technologies to handle 4K HDMI screens., as well as USB Touch for touch!. That's where VSI came into play.. We do not use fiber optic cable. We did everything through the CAT6A cable, hundreds of meters from the server room. Server room has to power 23 Screens, all but three of them interactive and tactile, with solid reliability and the lowest possible latency", comments Jack Lenk, Tellart Production Manager.

“This was our first project with VSI. We contact an integrator near our San Francisco office, David Carroll & Associates, and worked with our lead technical designer to configure the system architecture. In this project they have been used 23 E4100 encoders in the server room and others 23 D4100 decoders from Visionary Solutions. One per screen", lenk points out

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