Titan Arum — Tangible Virtual Models
«The Titan Arum — Tangible Virtual Models» is an interactive installation depicting the rare moment of the blooming of titan arum, the biggest flower in the world. The blooming process attracts enormous public interest but is very infrequent and lasts only a few days.
The research project proposed to preserve this experience and explore its educational potential. The word «tangible» literally means «touchable», but in this context is also intended to mean «understandable» and «accessible». These essential qualities make virtual models an effective tool for teaching and learning. The virtual model of titan arum allows the characteristics of the flower and its blooming to be experienced and comprehended by the user’s hands. The Leap Motion Controller allows the life-size model of the flower and the blooming process to be manipulated and analysed intuitively without a visible user interface. It becomes possible to let the flower grow, view it close-up and retrieve information about its individual parts. Following the principles of «scientainment», the rare moment when the flower blooms is brought to a wide audience in an interactive and playful way.
