The Parlamentarium interactive museum in Brussels uses a variety of interactive multimedia exhibits to take visitors on a unique journey into the heart of the European Parliament and the European Union (EU). Presented in the 23 languages of the EU, the center is ingeniously fitted into a space originally designed to be an underground car park by Stuttgart-based designer ATELIER BRÜCKNER.
The Challenge
The mission of Parlamentarium is to make sense of the political system that affects over 500 million citizens throughout the member states. It achieves this through a series of 100 multimedia installations exhibits that convey information using a wide diversity of styles from personal film presentation, a 13,000 LED bulb ceiling-mounted light map to a full-size mock-up of the plenary floor achieved through the use of a 150 sq meter projection system.
Sixteen racks of computer and audiovisual equipment provide high definition content for screens and interactive control of the exhibits, some of which are situated over several floors.
The Solution
Keyboard, Video and Mouse (KVM) extenders from IHSE are used within Parlamentarium to transmit definition video images around the building to be displayed on large screens, whilst simultaneously returning touchscreen controls from the user, allowing them to control and manipulate the presentation in real time. The system employs IHSE Draco compact KVM extenders connecting the computers to touchscreen terminals over the building’s Cat 7 wiring network.
The Benefit
Draco compact extenders were chosen for this application because of their ability to provide artifact-free, HD images at up to 140 meters away using Cat 7 cables. The USB 2.0 and USB-HID capability of the extenders allows the touchscreen interface commands to be returned to the computers, enabling full control of remotelylocated CPUs exactly as they would be if positioned adjacent to the displays.
The result is a lively and sophisticated visitor experience that fully absorbs visitors and gives them a closer look at the history and current developments in European politics.
