New installation by Mad Systems reveals how accessible digital dome theater technology has become

“This method, a new way to provide a dome-shaped projection surface, turns out to be a rather nice and a very affordable dome theater solution (often referred to as “fulldome”) for museums, visitor centers and a host of other venues.”

One interesting new development we came across recently when designing and installing a system for one of our clients was the negative pressure projection dome. A negative pressure dome is based on a geodesic dome that is built using rods that slot into interconnecting custom pucks. A structure with a near-ideal spherical shape results. An outer layer of material is then stretched over this structure, and an inner projection screen is mounted inside of the geodesic structure and connected to the outer surface. The air in the space thus created is then pulled out using a very quiet pump, and the resulting reduction in pressure (negative pressure) then causes the inner projection screen to be pulled towards the geodesic structure. The shape of the tensioned projection screen is such that this provides a semi-rigid surface that very closely approximates a dome shape, onto which images can be projected.

This method, a new way to provide a dome-shaped projection surface, turns out to be a rather nice and a very affordable dome theater solution (often referred to as “fulldome”) for museums, visitor centers and a host of other venues. Think about gaming, dark rides, 360-degree cinema and simulation. Use it to do a theater performance, surrounding your audience with imagery without needing any physical set changes. Surprise your guests by setting up a dining location where you take them into another space. Have a party, and use the dome to completely surround your audience as you dance the night away. Consider presenting your new building or gallery design such that it properly surrounds your audience. Experience a rock concert, or consider this for just about any application where you want your audience to be completely submerged in your story.

From aerospace to ocean depths, possibilities abound. A lowcost solution, it provides a number of distinct benefits when compared to other dome theater solutions. To start with – it doesn’t need a dome-shaped building or another huge custombuilt space – it will fit right into your venue (or outside it), and it’s free-standing. These domes are essentially ‘portable’; moving one around is certainly an option. Getting the basic structure built and the dome in is normally between a day and a few days of labor with another day or so to get the equipment in, finessed and your staff trained. The projection system provides at least 3K video into the dome, and with the included surround sound audio system, the result really can be rather stunning.

Basic size options range from a diameter of 10’ up to well over 100’ diameter, with seating capacities up to nearly 1,000 visitors and standing room for considerably more. Video resolutions range from around 3K up to 8K, depending on the size of the dome and the projection hardware installed. Lower cost options typically include conventional projectors, but laser projector options are also available. Options to use PVC, fiberglass or solid aluminum panel outer shells exist, so domes for outdoor use are available as part of the repertory. The decorative dome cover can be customized with full color printing, making for a very attractive exhibit. In the case of our installation, we used a simple black cover that makes the dome disappear into the ceiling and is hardly seen. A completely free-standing dome can be supplied and installed with a variety of different door options and even heating and cooling should it be required.

Controlling the dome is simplicity itself. Using an iPad with several options including an automated play-list feature means that you do not need a full time operator. Should you want for someone to present a show or show sequence, it’s easy: since the controller is portable, there is no need for a fixed operator position. The presenter or docent is free to join the audience and present from wherever works for them.

The total weight is relatively minor. No huge structures or vast amounts of infra-structure are required. For this installation we mounted a 15’ diameter aluminum ring into the space, and built the geodesic structure on top of that. Power requirements for this dome were minor, and the dome comes with everything you need to get it up and running. A 10’-15’ diameter dome only needs a single main socket. Another nice plus point with this system is that there is no longer a need to have equipment sitting in the middle of the room, as the projectors are mounted on the rim of the dome. This means that it is quite acceptable to have it as a free-standing exhibit that just runs movies or tells a story. Guests can walk in and out; there is nothing in the space that people can trip over. Once the projectors are installed, calibration of the imagery onto the dome is a breeze: A camera is set up in the middle of the dome for the calibration process, and a couple of button presses later the alignment is done and perfect.

Another nice feature is scalability. With a height requirement that is marginally over half of the diameter, and various different sizes being viable options, there is always a dome that will fit. In fact, even in cases where the remaining space below the dome might be marginal, there is usually no reason not to tilt the dome, and adjust the seating accordingly. Even in rooms a little over 10’ high there is an option to use a small dome to provide an immersive viewing environment. It is also easy to add another dimension – adding moving seats and special effects is quite feasible and relatively simple as there is no dome equipment to get in the way.

In the past, providing media for a dome has been expensive – but this is no longer as much of an issue. With a horizontally mounted dome and visitor seating arranged in a circle, it is obviously still important to provide media that looks good and is relevant no matter from which location it is viewed. However, with a tilted dome, and seating arranged on one side of the dome, this is much less of a concern. The dome we installed comes with a few short movies and a host of sample movies, and more material is available including the obvious space based media, but there is also a range of other interesting and good looking movies. Samples of electron microscope based imagery had the audience reacting well, and asking for more, and shoots of the Albuquerque Balloon Festival provided for a really nice alternative. Thousands of other titles for a range of genres are available, and with a movie conversion facility for (ideally) 4K material, it is easy to show client provided or purchased material in the dome. Our client obtained free content from NASA and converted it for the dome. With more and more 4K material being available, and wide angle lenses and 4K cameras likewise, even custom shoots are getting more affordable.

An add-on computer provides for a planetarium type capability. The “Event Horizon” software that was provided as part of this particular package allows for a host of basic planetarium-like functionality, with images of stars, the Milky Way and options to overlay names. You can control the magnitude of stars to be shown. Images of animated planets and planetary orbits are all part of this software, and covers all the basics. Event Horizon, however goes a lot further. It allows for options to see the sky not only in the visual domain, but in different spectra ranging from gamma-ray imagery to infra-red with a number of options in the middle. It is easy to control too, with the same iPad that is used to control all the other functionality of the dome. If this software is not enough, or if your educators have their own preference for an astronomy package, the computer that runs this software is Windows based, so that it is possible to install any of the ‘usual’ (and mostly free) astronomy software including Worldwide Telescope, Celestia, and any other suitable software package that you are used to working with as we did for this installation.

Talking about planetaria – the system is not equivalent to a traditional optomechanical “starball” projector, because it is a video system – but that’s why it is so flexible. Many planetarium type shows today are heavily dependent on projectors to provide the basic story, and if they employ a starball, it is only during part of the show. In this case, it is possible to do the same, and with video edit software now affordable for just about any platform, many operators have learned to create their own custom dome content in addition to drawing on distributors’ libraries. The software that controls the dome can run automatically after setting up a playlist – so not only is the dome itself affordable, but running it is also simplified. Dome projection of this kind is today within the reach of any museum, visitor center, theme park, special event or corporate client. • • •

Maris Ensing is with Mad Systems, a technology company specializing in audiovisual and interactives, based in Orange, California, with an office in Beijing, China. Visit www.madsystems.com.

#madsystems #dome #koepel #planetarium #telescope #celestia #eventhorizon #fulldome #360view

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四季适用的穹顶剧场

“对于博物馆、参观中心或有相应功能的接待场所来说,这个建造穹顶投影幕的新方法实际上来说更是一种效果很好又负担的起的方法。”

近日,我们为一个客户做了负压投影穹顶的系统设计和安装,这是一个有意思的新项目。这个负压穹顶以网格穹顶为基础,使用连接棒和定制的带插槽的小球搭建结构,呈现出近乎完美的球形。在这个固定结构外部用弹力面料覆盖,球形内部装裱投影幕并与外部面料相连。使用安静的抽气泵抽出外层和结构之间的空气,这样就降低了压力(负压真空),内层的投影幕就会被拉紧并紧贴球形结构。张力投影屏幕的呈现形状正是一个半硬性的表面,这与能被用来当作投影屏幕的穹顶非常相似。

对于博物馆、参观中心或有相应功能的接待场所来说,这个建造穹顶投影幕的新方法实际上来说更是一种效果很好又负担的起的方法。想想那些昂贵的体验游戏、暗黑骑乘、360度影院和模拟器,这个穹顶不对你的场地进行任何改变,但是制造同样的剧场效果,让你的观众置身其中感受影像的神奇。设想:1. 把你的客人带到另一个场地,给他们来一个令人惊喜的主题晚餐;2. 举办一场主题派对,用这个穹顶覆盖场地,客人们身在其中整晚跳舞不停;3. 为了更好地呈现你的新建筑或者艺术廊新设计,最好让他们沉浸式地去感受;4. 用来更好地感受一场摇滚音乐会……用在所有你希望观众完全陷入你的故事中的应用。

从太空到海底,充满各种可能。低成本的解决方案比起之前那些穹顶投影和类似天文馆穹幕的方式有太多明显优势了。如下——不再另外需要穹顶建筑或大型定制建筑空间;这个方式将适用于你现有场地内部或外部,且不需要支撑。这个穹顶本身就是“便携”的,所以随意变换位置也没有问题。全部工作就是建造这个穹顶的基础结构大概需要1天或几天,另外再用几天安装设备,调整以及培训员工。穹顶投影系统提供至少3k视频,以及环绕音响系统,这是非常令人震撼的效果。可选的基本尺寸范围是3k到8k,这取决于穹顶的尺寸和投影硬件的安装。更节省成本的方式通常使用传统的投影机,但是激光投影机其实也是一种选择。外层材料可选用PVC、玻璃丝,或者如使用现有的固体铝外壳,那穹顶就可以在户外使用可存放了。

外壳的装饰可以非常任性,随便上色或喷涂标识,使这个穹顶在展示中变得吸人眼球。在我们完成的这个项目中,我们选择了简单的黑色,这是为了在天花板中消失,不易被看到。由于这是一个完全不需要支持的穹顶,所以可选用各种门,如需要甚至可加装冷暖气。

穹顶的控制也是非常简单的。使用iPad通过几个操作就可以完成,其中包括一个自动播放列表功能,这就意味着你不需要时刻都在操作它。你是不是想用它向别人演示一段视频内容或者流程?这很简单,因为控制器都是可移动的,所以不需要设立固定的操作台。播放人或讲解员可以加入观众的行列或者任意他们想在的位置都可以。

说到对基础设施的要求,因为总重量相对轻所以不需要大体量的基础设施。此次项目的安装,我们以直径15英尺(约4.6米)的铝环为建造起点,在其上搭建球形结构。此穹顶需要的电量非常小,它搭载着所有必须有的构件和设备。一个10-15英尺(3-4.6米)的穹顶仅需要1个主电源插座。另外一个加分的优势是这个穹顶系统不需要在空间的中心放置设备,因为投影机全部安装在穹顶的轮廓线上。作为一个无支撑用于播放影片或讲述故事的展品这实在是太容易被接受了。人们可以自由进出,不需要躲避什么障碍。一旦投影机固定在穹顶上,图像校准是十分简单的事情:仅需在穹顶中间设立一个镜头,按一些按钮,然后找直线校准,几下就可以大功告成。

另外一个很好的功能是可伸缩性。在高度的限制下至少能实现一半以上直径的调节,不同的尺寸有不同的可行方案,总能做出正合适的穹顶。事实上,现实情况如果穹顶内部的空间太低了,完全可以倾斜抬起穹顶并相应调整座位区。甚至在一个仅10英尺(3米)多高的房间内也能找到使用小型穹顶的解决方案,并制造沉浸式的观看环境。同时,额外增加尺寸也很容易,增加更多活动座椅和特效都是非常可行和简单的,因为不另需要其他穹顶设备。

过去,为穹顶提供媒体素材非常贵,但这也不再是个大问题。水平安装的穹顶和圆圈式的观众座席会大大提升观看体验,当然无论从哪个角度观看,好的多媒体素材都是很重要的。设置为倾斜抬起的穹顶,把座位安置在穹顶一侧,这样会降低一些对多媒体素材的要求。我们在此项目中使用了一个短片和许多样片,有大量可选的素材包括关于太空的内容,当然还有一系列其他的有趣好看的影片。电子显微镜的影像内容会引发很好的观众反应,另外新墨西哥州的热气球节的影片也是很好的选择。成千上万的不同流派的影片可供选择,只需一个影片转换器进行4k素材转换,你就可以很容易地在穹顶向客户展示所购买的影片素材。基本上,通过更换多媒体素材使该体验展品不断更新并不是多难的事情。我们的客户得到许可,可免费使用NASA制作的一个影片,经过转换,这个影片完美呈现在穹顶。随着越来越多的4k素材的出现,广角镜头和4k摄像机也如潮涌般出现在市场,甚至连定制拍摄素材也变得可以负担的起。

一台扩展电脑就可提供天文馆的效果。“Event Horizon”这个软件就可以提供部分选择,实现天文馆具备的众多基本功能,比如星空、银河的图片,并添加其他内容。你可以控制所显示的星星的发光度。动画星球和星际轨道也是这个软件的一部分,它包括所有基本的内容。Event Horizon还能提供更多内容,它能让人们不仅看到视觉领域内的天空,还能看到不同光谱,范围从伽马射线图片到红外线,其中众多的可选内容。同样,操控很容易,使用那个用来操控穹顶其他功能的iPad。如果这个软件还不够,教育专家们想指定他们希望展现的天文学内容,也完全没有问题,因为这台电脑是Windows系统,所以可以用来安装各种常规天文软件(通常都是免费的),包括Worldwide Telescope、Celestia等其他你习惯使用的软件包,就像此项目我们完成的安装一样。

谈到天象仪的功能,比起蔡司镜头或类似的天文馆设备,这套系统没有这个功能。但是大多数情况,客户也负担不起或者也不需要这一功能。许多天文馆的内容展示也是很大成程度上依靠投影机完成的基本故事讲述,天象仪设备仅在过程中部分使用。使用可负担的起的视频编辑软件或者其他你能想到的平台,从上述一个天文软件输出并制作一个视频,现在想要呈现观众一个具佳的观看体验并不是向以前那样昂贵和麻烦。操控穹顶的软件都不需专职播放人员,可以就建立一个播放列表,让其循环运行,这样一来不单穹顶本身可以负担的起,操控和运营的便捷和低成本也适合任何博物馆、参观中心、主题公园、大型活动或公司的访客中心。

Mad Systems是一家技术公司,擅长音频、视频和互动体验装置,公司总部在加州橘子郡,中国北京设立办事处。

#madsystems #dome #koepel #planetarium #telescope #celestia #eventhorizon #fulldome #360view

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New installation by Mad Systems reveals how accessible digital dome theater technology has become

“This method, a new way to provide a dome-shaped projection surface, turns out to be a rather nice and a very affordable dome theater solution (often referred to as “fulldome”) for museums, visitor centers and a host of other venues.”

One interesting new development we came across recently when designing and installing a system for one of our clients was the negative pressure projection dome. A negative pressure dome is based on a geodesic dome that is built using rods that slot into interconnecting custom pucks. A structure with a near-ideal spherical shape results. An outer layer of material is then stretched over this structure, and an inner projection screen is mounted inside of the geodesic structure and connected to the outer surface. The air in the space thus created is then pulled out using a very quiet pump, and the resulting reduction in pressure (negative pressure) then causes the inner projection screen to be pulled towards the geodesic structure. The shape of the tensioned projection screen is such that this provides a semi-rigid surface that very closely approximates a dome shape, onto which images can be projected.

This method, a new way to provide a dome-shaped projection surface, turns out to be a rather nice and a very affordable dome theater solution (often referred to as “fulldome”) for museums, visitor centers and a host of other venues. Think about gaming, dark rides, 360-degree cinema and simulation. Use it to do a theater performance, surrounding your audience with imagery without needing any physical set changes. Surprise your guests by setting up a dining location where you take them into another space. Have a party, and use the dome to completely surround your audience as you dance the night away. Consider presenting your new building or gallery design such that it properly surrounds your audience. Experience a rock concert, or consider this for just about any application where you want your audience to be completely submerged in your story.

From aerospace to ocean depths, possibilities abound. A lowcost solution, it provides a number of distinct benefits when compared to other dome theater solutions. To start with – it doesn’t need a dome-shaped building or another huge custombuilt space – it will fit right into your venue (or outside it), and it’s free-standing. These domes are essentially ‘portable’; moving one around is certainly an option. Getting the basic structure built and the dome in is normally between a day and a few days of labor with another day or so to get the equipment in, finessed and your staff trained. The projection system provides at least 3K video into the dome, and with the included surround sound audio system, the result really can be rather stunning.

Basic size options range from a diameter of 10’ up to well over 100’ diameter, with seating capacities up to nearly 1,000 visitors and standing room for considerably more. Video resolutions range from around 3K up to 8K, depending on the size of the dome and the projection hardware installed. Lower cost options typically include conventional projectors, but laser projector options are also available. Options to use PVC, fiberglass or solid aluminum panel outer shells exist, so domes for outdoor use are available as part of the repertory. The decorative dome cover can be customized with full color printing, making for a very attractive exhibit. In the case of our installation, we used a simple black cover that makes the dome disappear into the ceiling and is hardly seen. A completely free-standing dome can be supplied and installed with a variety of different door options and even heating and cooling should it be required.

Controlling the dome is simplicity itself. Using an iPad with several options including an automated play-list feature means that you do not need a full time operator. Should you want for someone to present a show or show sequence, it’s easy: since the controller is portable, there is no need for a fixed operator position. The presenter or docent is free to join the audience and present from wherever works for them.

The total weight is relatively minor. No huge structures or vast amounts of infra-structure are required. For this installation we mounted a 15’ diameter aluminum ring into the space, and built the geodesic structure on top of that. Power requirements for this dome were minor, and the dome comes with everything you need to get it up and running. A 10’-15’ diameter dome only needs a single main socket. Another nice plus point with this system is that there is no longer a need to have equipment sitting in the middle of the room, as the projectors are mounted on the rim of the dome. This means that it is quite acceptable to have it as a free-standing exhibit that just runs movies or tells a story. Guests can walk in and out; there is nothing in the space that people can trip over. Once the projectors are installed, calibration of the imagery onto the dome is a breeze: A camera is set up in the middle of the dome for the calibration process, and a couple of button presses later the alignment is done and perfect.

Another nice feature is scalability. With a height requirement that is marginally over half of the diameter, and various different sizes being viable options, there is always a dome that will fit. In fact, even in cases where the remaining space below the dome might be marginal, there is usually no reason not to tilt the dome, and adjust the seating accordingly. Even in rooms a little over 10’ high there is an option to use a small dome to provide an immersive viewing environment. It is also easy to add another dimension – adding moving seats and special effects is quite feasible and relatively simple as there is no dome equipment to get in the way.

In the past, providing media for a dome has been expensive – but this is no longer as much of an issue. With a horizontally mounted dome and visitor seating arranged in a circle, it is obviously still important to provide media that looks good and is relevant no matter from which location it is viewed. However, with a tilted dome, and seating arranged on one side of the dome, this is much less of a concern. The dome we installed comes with a few short movies and a host of sample movies, and more material is available including the obvious space based media, but there is also a range of other interesting and good looking movies. Samples of electron microscope based imagery had the audience reacting well, and asking for more, and shoots of the Albuquerque Balloon Festival provided for a really nice alternative. Thousands of other titles for a range of genres are available, and with a movie conversion facility for (ideally) 4K material, it is easy to show client provided or purchased material in the dome. Our client obtained free content from NASA and converted it for the dome. With more and more 4K material being available, and wide angle lenses and 4K cameras likewise, even custom shoots are getting more affordable.

An add-on computer provides for a planetarium type capability. The “Event Horizon” software that was provided as part of this particular package allows for a host of basic planetarium-like functionality, with images of stars, the Milky Way and options to overlay names. You can control the magnitude of stars to be shown. Images of animated planets and planetary orbits are all part of this software, and covers all the basics. Event Horizon, however goes a lot further. It allows for options to see the sky not only in the visual domain, but in different spectra ranging from gamma-ray imagery to infra-red with a number of options in the middle. It is easy to control too, with the same iPad that is used to control all the other functionality of the dome. If this software is not enough, or if your educators have their own preference for an astronomy package, the computer that runs this software is Windows based, so that it is possible to install any of the ‘usual’ (and mostly free) astronomy software including Worldwide Telescope, Celestia, and any other suitable software package that you are used to working with as we did for this installation.

Talking about planetaria – the system is not equivalent to a traditional optomechanical “starball” projector, because it is a video system – but that’s why it is so flexible. Many planetarium type shows today are heavily dependent on projectors to provide the basic story, and if they employ a starball, it is only during part of the show. In this case, it is possible to do the same, and with video edit software now affordable for just about any platform, many operators have learned to create their own custom dome content in addition to drawing on distributors’ libraries. The software that controls the dome can run automatically after setting up a playlist – so not only is the dome itself affordable, but running it is also simplified. Dome projection of this kind is today within the reach of any museum, visitor center, theme park, special event or corporate client. • • •

Maris Ensing is with Mad Systems, a technology company specializing in audiovisual and interactives, based in Orange, California, with an office in Beijing, China. Visit www.madsystems.com.

#madsystems #dome #koepel #planetarium #telescope #celestia #eventhorizon #fulldome #360view

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