New York Power Authority Interactives
These interactives were developed in conjunction with Boston Productions, Inc. as part of a series of networked exhibits that were installed for the New York Power Authority's new Power Vista Experience. All rights belong to BPI and/or NYPA.
Renewable Energy Sorting GameThis educational game teaches visitors about how different energy sources can be classified. To start the game, visitors swipe an RFID card provided by the facility, which logs them in to the system and shows a short, animated instructional screen.
Progressing on to the game-play state, visitors sort falling icons, representing different types of energy, into one of three categories: renewable energy sources, non-renewable energy sources, and potential/experimental energy sources. Visual and audio feedback is given for both correct and incorrect answers. As time ticks down, the icons fall faster to increase the difficulty of the game. After the game ends, the visitor reviews each category and receives feedback on which icons were correctly placed and which ones were not. Selecting an icon gives more information about that particular energy source. On exiting the game, a dynamically-created "postcard" of the visitor's answers and score is uploaded to a website, where it can be viewed at a later time. |
Power Plant Operations InteractiveThis interactive allows visitors to explore key points in the Niagara dam. The kiosks are stationed at an overlook in the NYPA visitor center. An image of the vista, overlaid with hotspots, appears on the main screen of the interactive. Visitors can click on any of the hotspots to view an animation of the water flow through the dam at that point. One extra button allows the visitor to view the entire animation as one long sequence.
A hidden Content Management Mode, available to NYPA staff but not to visitors, allows dynamic adjustment of the hotspot positions. The animation was produced by Jeremy Angier of Somerville, MA. |
NYPA Facilities Overview
The NYPA Facilities Overview interactive allows visitors to learn about all fourteen of the Power Authority's facilities, which are spread across New York state. A map of the state, overlaid with hotspots, allows visitors to select a facility to learn more about it. Clicking a hotspot brings up an information page about the location or facility. Content can be adjusted dynamically by NYPA staff through the installation's web-based Content Management System.
On the user's first login to the interactive (using a framework built by BPI to allow RFID login and access of web-based content), they are shown a simple, one-question quiz about NYPA. Their answer is saved to their profile, and the same question is posed again at a different interactive. This is meant to track how visitors absorb information from the experience.
On the user's first login to the interactive (using a framework built by BPI to allow RFID login and access of web-based content), they are shown a simple, one-question quiz about NYPA. Their answer is saved to their profile, and the same question is posed again at a different interactive. This is meant to track how visitors absorb information from the experience.