Heritage in Motion - Europeana

The Word Slavic Writing Museum Center combines an array of interactive and multimedia installations with remarkable scenic design and decorations with integrated historical objects and their precise reconstructions. It is aimed to create a unique and immersive user experience related to the past, present and future of the Cyrillic writing across Europe and cultural heritage related to it - such as a history of book printing, evolution of alphabet and its symbiotic system in a historical context. It uses projection, video mapping, multi-channel and direct sound, haptic and tangible interfaces, gamification experience and edutainment approach across a number bespoke multimedia installations dedicated to the topic, most notable of which are: The History of Alphabet. An interactive panoramic video projection with animated content. Users can choose one of the physical blocks with modern or obsolete Cyrillic letters that are used in Slavic languages and place them in a special zone on a table. A custom software recognizes the letter and launches video content that users can see on the screen. It is also possible to make words out of the letters and see them displayed as a text. The Room of Children's Scary Stories. A spatial quest immersive experience, in which users enter a reconstruction of the room. There are a number of objects they can interact with: they can open a suitcase, pull a drawer, open a book and so on. The users interactions with objects launch related to them children folklore scary stories that every grown up adult from the countries of the former USSR knows. The soundtracks are narrated by different children and are played through directional sound speakers so only users staying on the spot nearby can hear them. The Diaries Room. A dozen of personal diaries of different people (children, soldiers, scientists etc) dated from many years ago to modern days are presented in glass cases. Next to them multi-touch screens are being placed, on which users can see scans of the diaries pages with their text decryption and the life stories of their authors in historical context. The Folklore Room. There are 3 custom designed pods made from felt, a traditional material used in former times. Users can sit inside pods and listen to folklore songs and samples from different locations across Eastern Europe. There is also a panoramic projection screen in the space on which recordings of folk singers are being played. The exposition walls combine graphic design and lettering in different styles with short interactive animations that explain the related topics. As the Center serves not only as a museum, but also an educational space, there is a library and number of individual working stations, which users can use for individual research and work with digitalized archives. There is also a multi-functional lecture hall/ theater space that is used for lectures, workshops and theater performances. The Center holds extensive educational programs and activities aimed at different visitor categories: from adults to children.