Australia - The new National Communication Museum (NCM) recently opened its doors in Melbourne, showcasing a series of dynamic displays with a system by Pharos Architectural Controls to connect audiences with the artefacts, stories and technologies that played a fundamental part in the history of communication.
The museum has been transformed by award-winning architects, Carr, from a 1930s telephone exchange building on the grounds of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people in Hawthorn, into an interactive exhibition with two floors of immersive displays.
The exhibition explores how technology shapes us, showcasing integral technologies from the past alongside the cutting-edge advancements that will connect us in the future. Offering hands-on experiences and nostalgic artefacts for all ages, NCM provides a fascinating and welcoming space to explore the landscape of technology from the 1850s to the present day and beyond.
A single-universe Pharos Designer LPC (Lighting Playback Controller) is responsible for the lighting control of the project, alongside a Pharos Designer TPS 5 (Touch Panel Station). The Pharos system is interfacing with a Philips Dynalite system to create energetic and refined lighting throughout the interior.
The Designer LPC is an award-winning, all-in-one DIN-rail mounted DMX lighting control solution for themed entertainment and LED lighting installations. It features individually controllable and independently running timelines and scenes letting you build dynamic, precise, fully customisable pre-programmed lighting effects with the freedom of real-time manual overrides and the versatility of powerful show control and integration features, ideal for managing multiple interactive displays and exhibits.
The Designer TPS 5 is an elegant interface with a customisable, capacitive touchscreen, compatible with any Pharos Designer controller. This technology allows you to create multiple pages of lighting controls, including buttons, sliders, keypads and colour pickers, and configure their appearance and visual feedback allowing museum staff easy access to select lighting overrides.
Tony Symms, regional sales manager for APAC at Pharos Architectural Controls said: “The NCM is a fascinating museum which highlights the ever-evolving advancements of technology and how they impact our lives. We’re pleased to know that Pharos technology is trusted to bring these dynamic installations to life.”
Lighting solutions provider, bluebottle, added: “The dynamic museum displays and immersive installations have been brought to life through the creative controls provided by Pharos. The LPC was the perfect solution to provide flexibility and versatility to meet the needs of each unique space.”
The museum has proved popular with families, residents and tourists, taking them on a journey of how technology has impacted on their lives and will continue to shape their future.
