1. Bloomberg Connects: Drawing Bar
http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern/things-to-do/interactive-activities/drawing-bar
The Idea
The Idea is for people to express themselves through art (drawings), then this piece of artwork is shown on a large projector, which may inspire others. There are also famous quotes that may inspire you as well. Here are the quotes:
‘I draw what I feel in my body’. Barbara Hepworth. ‘Drawing is simply a line going for a walk’. Paul Knee. ‘As soon as you make a piece of art, you’re an artist’. Michael Craig-Martin. I like to draw : that’s my way of thinking’. Ben Nicholson. Art is tasted,heard,smelt,seen and made by anyone’. Gayle Chong-Kwan.
The Planning
The Digitally Active Drawing Bar was located on Level 3 of the Tate Modern, Bankside Of South East London.
The Bloomsberg connect company had to think of a concept. Their concept was bringing people together and how would they do that, through Art. After the concept was thought of the company had to think of a design, Jason Bruges Studio linked to the Bloomsberg Connects designed the Drawing Bar.
There are eight drawing desks and eight chairs under forty digital screens, which uploads your drawings to a Flickr page, which allows people’s inner artist to be stored and displayed for other customers to view. Questions were probably as for example, how are we going to show everyone’s drawing on the screen so, projectors were put in. Also, where is this drawing bar going to be installed, the company asked the Tate, once the installation was located inside the Tate, the interpretation team (Andrew Walter and Minnie Scott) was responsible for the construction and positioning of this installation (www.thebigdrawing.org/digital-drawing-at-the tate-modern). There’s a large space in the Tate where you can place it hence, why had decided to put this installation on the third floor. Once everything was installed the people started to come and try the installation due to advisement.
The Space/Form
The interactive media installation is located in a large rectangle space.
How the viewer interacts
The viewer interacts with interactive installation by using an interactive drawing pen, that is used on a touch screen computer. The viewer uses the pen to pick different colours(light to dark), paint brush sizes and hardness.
Once the the drawer (viewer) has finished, they use the pen to type in two things, name and their email address. The viewer (artist) types their name, so that when their drawing is published (shown) they know it’s theirs also, other people that look at it know their name and their work (recognition). In addition to that, their email address is typed in so that they can have the link that should show what they have created. Maybe the viewer would like to show friends and family.
Before the drawing is uploaded, the terms and conditions appear on the screen. This is so they have the rights to use the drawing that the viewer has created, to avoid problems.
The Technology
The technological parts of this interactive installation are: a touch screen computer (monitor, tablet) that is used to display the software, 4 or more projectors used to show the different artwork on the large screen, the art software that is (probably designed by the company) used to draw what ever the viewer wants draw and the pen that is used by the viewer to draw their idea.
The Experience
The experience is that everyone can have fun drawing using their imagination to create wonderful artwork that people see when they look at the projector. Whether its their culture (where they are from) or just scribbles, it’s their artwork and no one can take that away from them. They know they’re artist and their drawings may inspire others, the children concentrate on detail to create their picture, some of the drawings were partly influence by their parents. Sometimes the parents would add features and if the child likes it would keep it, if not they would erase it. So its all about the mind and having fun, being creative.
Even I had ago and came out with a wacky drawing which I really love and treasure. Grown adults tried this installation as well and enjoyed it, so it’s for everyone. The experience of using this installation is simply being creative and enjoying yourself, also, having a great day drawing with your friend or your family.
According to Minnie Scott, interpretation curator of the Tate, the plan of the Drawing Bar “is to have visitors’ voices at their heart. We’re asking people to add their personal thoughts on artworks”(http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/blogs/behind-scenes-interpretation).
The advantage of the Digital Drawing Desks is that there is sufficient room to sit a person on each side of the artist and insert their artwork onto the page.
Whilst viewing the customer comment board, the writer noticed that Gabriel from Harrow stated one disadvantage with the planning of the Drawing Bar was that the amount of desks were insufficient. Furthermore, due to the limited places, long queues and long waiting times occurred as well as causing a bottleneck in the corridor between the wall and the café.
2. Science Musuem – Launch Pad: Hydrogen Rocket
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/Plan_your_visit/exhibitions/launchpad.aspx
The idea
The context of the hydrogen rocket installation is to educate people about electrolysis and how it works.
The planning
The science museum has built a launch pad and has offered science experiments that will appeal to 8-14 year olds as well as their parents and teachers.
The first matter that they had to deal with was to figure out the concept. This was accomplished by researching different experiments through their research/science division of the company.
Once they had found an experiment that they could use for the launch pad, a design had to be contrived (probably by the company’s art department) for the installation to seem appealing. Moreover, it had to be suitable for the hydrogen rocket to function. After the design is finished, the installation has to be inspected by the science department.
Next, the financial aspect of the installation would be considered, such as how much the individual parts are, for example, the electrodes, the water, the generator etc. The finance team would do this aspect of the project.
A three dimensional graphic plan would probably have been used for this project because the organisers’ will have to measure the amount of space needed for this installation. After that, they have to measure the room to figure out the best space to locate it. In addition, they would have to get contractors’ to construct everything.
One completed, some test runs would be performed to make sure that it is working constantly and frequently. Alongside that health and safety checks have to be finalised. For example, when the cork explodes, how high will its projection upwards be and when a child has generated enough energy for the rocket to launch, is their a safety fuse, so that no one files a lawsuit against on the science museum.
Finally, there is the advertising of the hydrogen rocket installation, which persuades the general public to visit the science museum as well as use the installation.
This hydrogen rocket installation is placed in a open space, where many people can gather around and try this installation as well as hear the countdown and the pop, when you have generated enough electricity.
How the viewer interacts
The viewer interacts by turning the handle on a wheel, this wheel is attached to a generator, which generates electricity. The more the viewer spins the handle, the more electricity is created. The amount of electricity that you generated is shown on a small monitor, once you have enough energy the countdown will begin, after 1 the rocket (cork) will shoot up and then come down again, to start the installation all over again.
The technology
The technology parts of this installation are: The wheel that is connected to the generator, the generator that create the electricity used to create the bubbles, the two electrodes that split the two gases hydrogen and oxygen called electrolysis. the monitor (meter) that tells the viewer when they have enough gas to power that rocket and the spark that shoots the rocket towards the ceiling. All of these element are important.
The experience
The experience is for people (the viewer) to learn about science interactively and to have a pleasant time doing so. I had a turn at using the installation was first hand and when you start spinning the handle you are using all of your strength, however, it becomes tiring. On the hand, you don’t want to quit because you’ve started to generate electricity so, its only principal that you should finish spinning the handle because if you stop the struggle would have meant nothing. Once you have generated enough electricity , the countdown begins. You could either cover your ears or embrace the sound of the pop, i had covered my ears, when you’ve finished the person behind you goes next.
Stephanie Corr-Amajor 
