About This Project
NOVA SOUTH EASTERN UNIVERSITY
Client: NOVA South Eastern University
Collaborators: NOVAs Architectural Design + NOVA South Eastern University
Application: Interactive Vision Wall
Technology: (4) Samsung UD55C Panels w/ 6 Point Touch, (3) Interactive 6 Point Touch Displays Using Samsung UD65C w/ Cameras, (4) Lenovo PCs, Yearbook Yourself App, Type of Researcher Quiz App, Student Life Meet Up App, Bulletin Board App
NOVA is a nonprofit research university with a mission to provide superior education from preschool to the professional level. With state-of-the-art facilities utilizing the latest in technology, prestigious graduate programs and a vibrant campus life, this private Florida Research University attracts students from over 100 countries and five continents.
THE CHALLENGE
Nova South Eastern University came to us to fill the last undesigned space in their recently renovated, Don Taft University Center with a long interactive “shark tank”.
Our creative directors reassessed the project with the university’s architectural design team and determined that a beautiful, yet functional interface would be the best plan of action.
On top of beauty and function Horizon Display wanted to make sure that this project was for NOVA and their students and not for anyone else.
THE PROBLEM
This space, while beautiful would be nothing without something to display on it.
We developed original software in the form of interactive apps. We had a short 10 weeks to develop the apps. We wanted to develop apps specifically designed to engage, entertain, and inform NOVA’s students. As well as celebrate NOVA’s 50th Anniversary.
THE SOLUTION
Horizon Display got to work right away to develop a beautiful interactive aquarium attraction loop and 3 unique interactive apps which would activate when the screens were touched. This interactive experience was dubbed “The Vision Wall” and was launched in time for NOVA’s 50th anniversary celebration.
The Vision Wall highlights the university’s most important topics of discussion for new and prospective students:
- The school’s rich history
- Their celebrated graduate research programs
- On-campus events and clubs
App 1: Yearbook Yourself
One of the most common requests we receive from universities looking to invest in interactive experiences for their campus is for us to incorporate their rich history into the interface.
However, the challenge is to make historical timelines both educational and a fun experience for the user. Our mission is for every student to leave the experience excited to tell a friend to check it out for themselves. So for this project, we incorporated an element of self-photography. Who says historical facts and selfies don’t mix?
Visitors to the wall can flip through the decades of the university to read milestone events, view old campus photographs, and leave their mark by placing their own face in the frame of a groovy hairstyle and outfit of the era.
After yearbooking themselves, users can upload the photo straight to the university’s social media accounts or flip through other Yearbook Yourself pics for a good laugh.
App 2: What Type of Researcher are You? The Quiz!
NOVA South Eastern University is known for its exciting interdisciplinary research program. The university uses more than $82 million in externally provided funding to work on projects that advance their mission of research. They wanted a way to showcase these exciting research programs to new and prospective students.
We developed a quiz style application which asks visitors a variety of questions to determine what type of research program best suited their personality type.
At the end of the quiz, visitors can then explore their matched program’s in-class photos, learn about the professors, and read all about the achievements graduating students accomplished after their studies.
Visitors also have the option to skip the quiz all together to browse the available research programs.
App 3: Student Life Meet Ups
College life should be an experience – and one that isn’t solely ruled by classes and homework. NOVA University’s life on campus is one they claim to be like something you’ve never experienced with an abundance of student activities and a close-knit campus community unlike any other. But one of the biggest issues for a university with so many social activities is getting the word out there about the activities themselves.
We developed a meet-up style application which would allow students to browse clubs and organizations by category of interest or by event and meet-up dates and times. Calls-to-action through out the interface give students the opportunity to get more information on that particular club or event sent to their email.
The backend CMS allows the university to upload photos, organization details, and contact information which can by updated immediately on the vision wall.
