Macines are getting more and more complex – whether it is about TVs, computers, mobile phones, cars or microwave ovens. The interface between human and machine should allow us a problem free interaction with the devices. The serviceability of a human-device-interface is called usability. We investigate with different methods the usability of hardware and software,…

Our Watchdog controls and monitors a single exhibit of an exhibition. It reports the xCocos Server and accepts commands from the server. All programs, which are necessary for the exhibit, are started up by Watchdog, at the same time it opens a connection, so that the xCocos server is able to request the station’s state.…

The xCocos (eXhibition Control and Configuration System) server is used for controlling, maintaining and data saving for cross-linked exhibitions with distributed interactive exhibits. xCocos shows how many and which exhibits are active in the exhibition. All exhibits can be remote controlled with TeamViewer. For example, the server starts up and shuts down the stations. All…

The members of the DMT team perceive visitor experience as multidimensional. Our know-how shows that an exhibition with outstanding hands-on and minds-on exhibits is a great base for visitor experience. But a well-engineered high-tech exhibits isn’t useful, if usability hasn’t been integrated from the beginning of the development process. It is necessary to identify target…