Since 2019, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been developing a foundation to facilitate public access to important cultural artifacts. The ‘real sense library’ recently opened as a part of this initiative. It is an exhibition space in the National Library of Korea that uses innovative and engaging technology to provide visitors with access to priceless items such as ancient manuscripts that are usually kept securely under “lock and key” in a deep vault.
Making such important pieces accessible to the public, historians and researchers is crucial, whilst safely showing them proved a challenge. To address this, Seoul-based smart services consultant, Ubidus, was brought on board to design and build a series of engaging, interactive exhibits allowing users to experience the library’s content digitally but in a uniquely immersive way. Following a detailed analysis of the requirements, the company developed several concepts together with the required hardware and software. Having previously worked successfully with Zytronic’s long-standing Korean partner, Dream Team Harmony (DTH), on projects such as the prestigious interactive touch table in the foyer of the Shinhan Bank, Ubidus immediately turned to them for advice for two of the exhibits called the ‘Digital Book’ and ‘The Future of Search’.
“Many companies have developed digital books using LCDs over the years, but we wanted to create something more realistic,” said Baek Jin Su, Team Manager, Ubidus. “Our idea was to leverage a real large-scale book whereby users could physically turn the pages to view content, as well as interact with the text to generate related animations. For ‘The Future of Search’ concept is an interactive table; we wanted to provide users with a more immersive and interactive method for researching the library’s old documents beyond what we usually see on a computer screen.” Both imaginative concepts were realized using digital projection mapping and Zytronic’s award-winning contactless ‘hover’ touch sensing technology. Operating in conjunction with Zytronic’s own ZXY500™ projected capacitive controller, loaded with proprietary firmware, the solution boosts touch detection levels far beyond what is usually possible, enabling a level of sensitivity significantly greater than conventional projected capacitive systems. For instance, through the air, touch detection can be picked up at least 50mm away from the surface of the sensor, and crucially for this application, it also registers interaction through non-conductive materials, such as paper, wood, plastic, and ceramics.
Beneath the pages of the “Digital Book” and the surface of “The Future of Search” marble tables, DTH proposed bespoke ZyFilm® touch sensors. “Because the Zytronic sensor has a flexible film structure, it can be easily installed under the pages and tabletop and coupled with their ZXY500™ controller is highly resilient against any external noise – put simply, it works!” said Baek Jin Su.
By turning the pages of the “Digital Book”, users can read the original texts and interpretations of Dongui Bogam in a unique way. This ancient Korean medical encyclopedia was compiled by the royal physician Heo Jun, first published in 1613 and circulated throughout Korea and China. In this latest imagining, users can interact with each page using the super sensitive Zytronic touch sensor mounted beneath with a high-resolution overhead projector above, adding animation effects and bringing each “Digital Book” to life.
Furthermore, in the library’s reading room, “The Future of Search” interactive marble tables have been designed and manufactured to deliver an innovative way to access digitized content. Visitors and scholars alike can visually and dynamically search library materials, share search results, or collaborate with research colleagues. Like the “Digital Book”, Zytronic’s ‘hover’ touch recognition technology works through the dense, non-conductive rock tables, enabling several users to interact with the overhead projected content simultaneously.
“It’s only Zytronic’s special ZXY500™ controller and its proprietary ‘hover’ firmware combined with the flexible touch sensor that can reliably detect touches through thick, non-conductive materials, enabling us to create the desired design that I had only thought of as an idea,” said Baek Jin Su. “The innovative technology proved to be the ideal solution to deliver a fully immersive user experience that gives very fast response and excellent touch accuracy. The dedicated technical support and application guidance from their local partners DTH, were also compelling reasons for choosing Zytronic.”