The stunning quality of Sony´s 3LCD BrightEra VPL-FHZ57 laser projectors is being demonstrated in interactive multimedia installations, offering visitors a visually immersive and engaging experience to unlock some of the secrets behind particle physics research.
Background
The “Leonardo da Vinci” Museum of Science and Technology in Milan has designed and created a new permanent exhibition, “Extreme. In search of particles”, entirely dedicated to particle physics. This is the first exhibition of this type in Italy and was produced in collaboration with CERN – the European Organization for Nuclear Research – and INFN – the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics. The exhibition sheds light on what happens in the laboratories of two of the largest research centres for particle physics in the world.
Challenges
Explaining particle physics to non-experts is complicated and requires clear, direct language delivered by suitable technology. Therefore, the museum needed a projection solution that was able to cover the exhibition area of about 350 square metres, was easy to install and use, as well as versatile to ensure low maintenance costs over time.
Sony solution
The National Museum of Science and Technology turned to Sony, choosing the VPL-FHZ57, a model that is particularly suitable for museums thanks to its high-quality images, its wide range of installable lenses and its reduced operating costs. Due to its elegant, low-profile design, its tidy, concealed wires and its minimal noise, it can be easily integrated into any museum, whether for permanent or temporary exhibitions. The solution allows users to seamlessly blend images from multiple projectors to create super-sized displays and even project natural, accurate images onto curved surfaces. The projector can be installed at any angle, even on its side or upside down. Thanks to its intuitive installation menu, configuration is very easy.
The Sony projectors were installed in three different settings inside the Museum:
? From traces to events. The exhibition itinerary begins by presenting research methods relating to particle physics—the main theme of the entire exhibition—in an easily accessible way
? Extra dimensions allow visitors to come into contact with a world in which the number of possible dimensions is greater than the four that we all know. Using projections made possible by the VPL-FHZ57, visitors see their image gradually reflected before becoming lost and then redistributed to other points in the space in unrecognisable forms, like a sort of contemporary and technological cubist picture
? Dark matter is an interactive multimedia installation that uses Sony projectors to suggest how existence and the behaviour of that which is “seen” in the Universe are determined by something unseen, in other words dark matter. Thanks to the technology installed, visitors can shape the “matter” and see how it affects the galaxies projected above them.
Results
Thanks to Sony projectors, particle physics enthusiasts can delve into a subatomic world to discover dark matter down to its most minute components, projected in a sharp and detailed manner.
The exceptional brightness and picture quality of Sony´s projectors allow visitors to catch a glimpse of a fascinating research area that explores the texture of matter at the smallest of scales and investigates the fundamental building blocks of our universe.
The use of Sony projectors, with their versatile installation options and low running costs, has made the installations accessible to a wider audience. The great technical support delivered by Sony enabled the Museum to present complex concepts like dark matter and extra dimensions in an interactive and engaging way.
Why Sony was chosen
“For each exhibition project, the Museum researches and creates new multimedia installations capable of transferring a variety of content into original, engaging experiences for visitors of all ages,” said Barbara Soresina, Head of Project Management at the National Museum of Science and Technology.” The installation of the ‘Extreme. In search of particles’ exhibition was created with the best multimedia production and software programming companies in Italy.
“To enhance this high-quality creative work with hardware, we turned to Sony as its B2B laser projectors offer the best performance but at the same time also adapt to non-standard projection spaces and requirements. The low management costs of laser projection also ensure that the museum can create a permanent exhibition that is low maintenance. The Sony staff were both creative and professional, and collaborated closely with the Museum designers to choose the right equipment for the installation, including the VPL-FHZ57 projector and a range of suitable lenses. In the last few years, the Museum has formed technical partnerships aimed at enriching new exhibitions and, more generally, all spaces with cutting-edge technology and beautiful yet functional decor.”
