The Projection Augmented Relief Model (PARM) technique: Exploring the potential impact on the heritage and museum sector
March - July 2012

Participants
Gary Priestnall
James Goulding (Horizon Digital Economy Research Institute

Funding
Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS), The Univserity of Nottingham

Project Overview

This project followed work started through an EPSRC pump-priming grant which had begun to explore the measurable benefits of the Projection Augmented Relief Model (PARM) technique for spatial knowledge acquisition. A Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) Research Development Fund grant has allowed us to explore the potential of the PARM system within the heritage sector, specifically in museums and gallery exhibitions. Specifically the grant allowed us to extend a crude prototype into a multi-display system and to establish a case study demonstrator based upon the context of a museum exhibition. The new configuration that was developed is shown below.

Central to the display is a physical landscape model mounted flat on a plinth around 80cm high, with a data projector mounted above. A touchscreen allowed basic interaction and a monitor mounted behind the model allowed information related to the projections to be displayed. The focus for the case study became an exhibition of manuscripts at the Wordsworth Trust museum in Grasmere, Cumbria in the English Lake District.

The specific theme of this PARM installation became 'Spots of Time', key moments in Wordsworth's childhood which related to landscape but also influenced poetry written in later life. Before being installed at the Trust in August 2012 the 'Spots of Time' PARM system was presented at the 'Electronic Visualization and the Arts, London' (EVA London) conference in July 2012, where it won the 'Best Demonstration' prize.  

Research Outcomes
Priestnall, G., Gardiner, J., Durrant, J., and Goulding, J. (2012) Projection Augmented Relief Models (PARM): Tangible Displays for Geographic Information, Proceedings from Electronic Visualisation and the Arts (EVA) London, 2012. [PDF]

Related Links
Wordsworth Trust Web Site