Case study: Visitors’ Centre in the Austrian Parliament

-----

15 innovative multimedia stations by checkpointmedia in the new visitors’ centre in the parliament building in Vienna

Parliament opens its doors ? from the House to the B�rgerparlament: the visitors’ centre is where Parliament meets the public face to face. Multimedia installations make it possible to present the development and function of parliamentary democracy on three levels (basic concepts, further information, experts’ level).

Tasks:

A virtual journey of discovery offers visitors of all ages, whether they wish to learn about the basics of parliamentary democracy in Austria and the EU or to extend their knowledge, the chance to go on a tour of the parliament building.

Solutions:

Reception desk "Visitors’ Information":
Two large displays, which can be edited via a content management system, provide information on forthcoming events and regular guided tours.
"Overture": The large 6 x 3.2 m media wall (made up of 24 rear projection units weighing a total of nearly 2.5 tonnes) greets the visitors with an "overture" in the form of a film introducing all the areas of interest in the visitors' centre.
“ Legislation”: Parliament's chief task is explained in simple and easy-to-understand terms on three synchronized monitors. Using a specific example, the individual steps towards legislation can be traced ? in keeping with the dynamics of the procedure ? from one monitor to the next until a law is finally passed.
“Parliamentary democracy”: This interactive installation explains the basic concepts of parliamentary democracy in Austria and provides easy-to-follow information on the four basic elements "Citizens" ? "Members of Parliament" ? "Laws" ? "Enforcement" in a series of images that reflect the chronology.
“EU”: Visitors can use an interactive menu to discover the fundamentals of the European Union and its cooperation with the Austrian parliament. A “news ticker” provides the latest news from Brussels.
“Infrastructure”:
A video clip offers visitors a glimpse behind the scenes of parliament and the everyday work of MPs and provides some impressive statistics such as the distances travelled, the height of files and records when these are stacked up etc.
“Wheel of Time”:The wheel of time offers an overview of the historical landmarks in parliamentary life in Austria by means of video clips. Visitors can travel along a timeline by turning a large, mechanical wheel.
“Time Machine”: The time machine allows large groups of people to discover the history of parliamentarianism in an atmosphere reminiscent of cinema. The large screens and sound systems in the multi-purpose auditorium are used to play the time wheel’s films (dimensions of the media wall in the auditorium: 4.5 x 1.7m, consisting of 15 special plasma screens).
“Parliamentary magnifying glass”
With this mechanical multimedia installation visitors can undertake a minute inspection of the parliament's fa�ade using a virtual magnifying glass, through which they can also take a look inside the building. In addition, there are more than 30 "hot spots" which provide additional information on the building's architecture and function.
“Who’s Who 1907 - 1918 and 1918 to the present day”: These three stations offer an interactive seating plan as well as information on members of parliament laid out as in an encyclopaedia. This huge amount of data has been edited and arranged for public viewing for the first time in a special statistics section. In addition, a brief historical outline is provided for each parliamentary term.
“Research terminals”: On three work stations selected websites are available to visitors for research purposes. In addition, a three-dimensional model of the parliament building offers the chance to go on a virtual tour. In a specially designed quiz for young people, animated figures test and extend the knowledge that the young visitors gained during their tour in an entertaining way.