Every programmer who had to develop a Multi-Touch application from scratch knows how difficult it can be to handle many simultaneous interactions. Not only multiple fingers are used while interacting, but also multiple persons can use an application at the same time. Gestures can even be combined, for example to rotate and scale an object at the same time.

This can get quite complicated and it is not very effective to program the same interactions for every app so we looked for a framework that is capable of a high-level handling of gestures. At the time there were no usable solutions available so we applied for a research grant at the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and developed a very powerful framework.

Here is a short demo video explaining the basic functionality of the MINT Framework:

We just launched the website, there you will find much more technical information, demo videos and in the near future also a download link for the full framework.

http://mint.strukt.com

Click here to visit the MINT website.

The basic idea was to create an interactive keyboard that triggers the voices of the boys and classical audio tracks. After recording the boy’s voices and 4 different short musical pieces, we developed and designed the hardware and software. Due to the difficult location in a subway station our design had to be very robust and non-combustible. This is why the whole base of the keyboard is made out of solid aluminum and corian. Colored letters are set into the surface to allow LEDs to illuminate the keys when they are pressed.

Due to the big success in Paris the same installation will be shipped to Tokyo where it will be standing in front of Suntory Hall, one of the most renowned concert halls in the world.

Some impressions from the test-setup in our office.

Working in close cooperation with Voss+Fischer and the marketing department Strukt had to develop the exhibits within a very short timeframe. From the start of the project to the opening of the fair Strukt had exactly four weeks for the whole interface design and programming of the media installations. Beside the overall design concept Strukt ensured that every installation got it’s own unique touch with some unique eye-candy. After only one day for the technical setup of the custom-made software, the terminals provided an attractive and intuitive experience for the visitors to experience Kia‘s design vision, philosophy and their global design process.

Gas Connect Austria operates the infrastructure that acts as the central hub in the European natural gas grid. Compressor stations along the pipelines ensure constant flow of gas by cleaning, measuring and compressing it. At the eight compressor stations spread all over Austria the our informational animation informs about this process. An interactive version is available on the website of Gas Connect Austria. The print version is used in information brochures.

We created a clean visual language to communicate the complex process:

To use red as the main color was an obvious choice. The position and shape of the projection screen was a little harder to figure out. In the end we came up with the solution to mirror the curved design of the ceiling with a curved projection screen. With some tricks it was possible to suspend the screen in the air without any obvious columns.

To meet the high standard of the stage design we developed a versatile presentation system that was capable of rendering video and animated live visuals to one perfect overall picture. After the official agenda went by a DJane took the stage and the projection was transformed into party visuals.

Strukt likes to show clients beforehand how a stage will look and that’s why it is essential to create realistic visualizations during the design process. Some of the design elements have changed but the overall look and feel was maintained.

For the opening of the event Strukt created a trailer, explaining the achievements of the past and the challenges of the future. The animation made use of the curved projection canvas and was spread over an aspect ratio of 4:1. A 16:9 adaption of the animation was used in Erste Bank‘s intranet before the event.

Product information

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For inquiries and prices please contact Thomas Hitthaler
+43 1 236 6236-1

The Strukt Media Tree is a flexible content presentation system that allows our clients to present any kind of content to multiple interacting users at the same time. This is because all of the information is hidden inside objects that are called “NODEs”

The text on the Media Tree objects is simply a headline that represents the actual content. NODEs are arranged into a treelike structure that is very similar to a “sitemap” on a website. When clicking on a NODE it expands and revels the embedded content. Multiple users can open any number of NODEs and view all their contents simultaneously.

This content can be basically anything such as
- images (png, jpg, etc)
- text (that has to be converted into image files)
- video (avi or wmv up to HD Resolution)
- audio (mp3 or wav)
- live content (from databases such as weather and stocks or social media platforms such as twitter and facebook)
- in addition we can offer the development of custom modules such as games or questionnaires that can be used to collect information about the users.

A special feature of the MediaTree is that content can never overlap even when multiple users open many content windows at the same time. Each window displaces all surrounding objects to make room for itself. This works as long as there is free screen space. Only when no free space remains, overlapping will occur.

The content is managed via a backend that is controlled by a simple content management system (CMS) which organizes the NODEs and connects them. The hierarchy and position of the objects on the surface can be defined according to a few simple rules:
The base of the Media Tree hierarchy is the ROOT of the tree.

Multiple ROOTs can be displayed simultaneously and each ROOT can have any number of NODEs attached to it.
NODEs will align themselves around the ROOT and to each of the NODEs, another NODE can be attached.
This can be continued until the available surface is covered and no free space remains.

The Media Tree can be used on a single-touch surface

And it can also be installed on the Struktable:

The whole application is completely skinnable and thus be adjusted to fit into any corporate design or other guidelines.