Touchscreen kiosks on the life of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz
Vivian Ducat, Columbia University, USA
Columbia University Digital Knowledge Ventures has designed and executed the content and presentation for three extensive multimedia kiosks for the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, located at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan.
The touch-screen kiosks include a wealth of photography and archival film as well as comprehensive text and interviews covering the lives and contributions of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz. The three kiosks offer one and a half hours of short videos as well as never-before-seen family photos, photos of Harlem by Malcolm X's contemporaries, photos shot by Malcolm X himself during his travels, and postcards that he wrote to friends. They represent the largest existing exhibition on Malcolm X available anywhere in the world.
These engaging digital presentations are designed to be intellectually accessible to a wide range of visitors, from school children to adults who have a background in the history presented. Visitors can explore the kiosks at their own pace, touching the screens to navigate through videos, photographs, text, and interactives that include a timeline about the lives of Malcolm and Betty, a map of Harlem locations significant to Malcolm, and a display of Malcolm's postcards. Visitors can view the materials chronologically or by topic.
Demonstration: Demonstrations [Close-Up]
Keywords: Malcolm X, touchscreen, kiosks, archives, digital, video
