In 2018, the New England Air Museum unveiled a major new exhibit on the history and technology of Connecticut-based Kaman Corporation, and the lifetime of innovation by company founder Charles Kaman.
Thanks to a recent investment from the Kaman Foundation, led by members of Charles Kaman’s family, 3D holograms and augmented reality will now inform and delight visitors, dramatically increasing visitor learning and engagement. Upgrades include:
A 3D hologram that explains how Charlie Kaman’s inventions reduced the effect of vibration in aircraft, revolutionizing helicopter design.
An interactive kiosk that tells the story of Charlie Kaman’s work in aviation, and even includes a game showing how the pieces of a helicopter fit together.
Augmented Reality (AR) that allows our docents to share their first-hand stories of working with Charlie.
An AR scavenger hunt that makes learning about helicopter technology fun and engaging.
A smartphone app that brings much of this information to visitors both onsite at the museum or anywhere.
“The New England Air Museum is proud to be at the forefront of exhibit technology,” said Debbie Reed, the museum’s executive director. “This is just the first step in a process that will transform the museum into a true 21st century visitor experience.”
This exhibit upgrade was designed and created by the team at Quast Media LLC, with support from Arsome Technology. Both Quast and Arsome are located in Manchester.
According to Winfried Quast, president and CEO of Quast Media, “Our experience with interactive digital signage, 3D holograms and augmented reality, along with knowledge gained through consumer surveys and focus groups, allowed us to apply the ideal immersive digital experience to fit the museum’s vision and bring the exhibit to life. While our entire team used their full creative talent to complete this project, one of the best experiences for us was to work with the museum’s staff and docents. We learned so much about the history of Kaman and Charlie.”
Anyone can download the new app at home (available in the Apple Store or Google Play—just search for New England Air Museum) to access virtual features, and then visit the museum to experience the rest of the augmented reality right from their own device. “This is particularly helpful now during the pandemic, because it allows us to offer our visitors great content in a safe, sanitary manner,” says Reed.
Quast Media has developed a case study of the New England Air Museum project that can be found at quastmedia.com/museum-case-study
The Kaman Exhibit is available to visitors for the basic general admission price. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday during the winter.