October 2007 – A.T. Still University in Arizona was looking for a dynamic interactive installation for the school’s museum. The University’s President, James McGovern, asked the faculty and museum personnel to develop concepts for an interactive exhibit that would wow audiences and educate children and families about their bodies and the importance of making healthy choices, while also entertaining them.

Using patented camera technology, as well as facial recognition and body tracking software, GestureTek’s Gesture Xtreme system captures a person’s real-time image as they stand in front of a green screen and transports it into an interactive virtual space where their ‘virtual body’ connects with onscreen objects and elements and activates responses.

In the “Cell Warrior” game, created by GestureTek, players assume the role of a white blood cell on a mission to destroy disease-causing bacteria. They are deployed to various digitally-constructed parts of the human body, such as the vascular system or the lymphatic vessel, where they must fight bacteria and save the body’s delicate systems.

The University also utilized GestureTek’s patented Table FX technology to create a soothing virtual ‘tranquility pond’. An image of a fish-filled pond is projected onto an illuminate table by overhead projectors. The application is programmed to respond intelligently to body motion, so users can make water ripple or scare fish away simply by moving their hands over the table.

The University was thrilled with how the interactive exhibit was received by attendees, and they were pleased at its wide appeal for children of all ages and their parents. “These eye-catching interactive installations are favorites of young children and parents alike, and they are definitely the highlights of the exhibit,” said Jason Haxton, Exhibits Manager, A.T. Still Museum.