The document discusses different types of interactive digital walls, including projection-based walls, video walls, LED walls, and walls made interactive through overlays, gesture sensors, or conductive paint. It defines an interactive digital wall as a physical wall surface that can be interacted with digitally using various display and sensing technologies. The document provides details on considerations for requirement gathering such as the type of display, suitable interaction hardware, whether interactivity is needed, available content, and budget. It also outlines the key parties involved in creating an interactive digital wall such as the wall fabricator, AV contractor, interactivity integration company, and content development company.

1. Interactive Digital Walls
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An overview on how walls can be turned into interactive digital surfaces

2. A formal
definition
An interactive wall is a physical wall surface
that is mapped with a digital display, such as
projection or digital screens and can be
interacted with - to manipulate content
displayed on it.
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3. In other words
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Consider an MDF, concrete
or any type of wall
Using some specific technology,
display hardware is mapped on
to it making it a ‘digital content
wall’ – although the content is
not interactive, like a video or an
image slideshow
Using hardware that enables
interaction and content
(software) that plays on it, the
digital display wall is made
‘interactive'

4. Types of walls:
Projection-based
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The simplest and the
most economical
way of turning a wall
into a digital display
surface is using a
projector. Projectors
come in various
types and have
different capabilities.
A simple whiteboard,
to a full cinema
screen can be made
into a visual digital
display using
projectors.

5. Types of walls:
Video Walls
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Another high-
resolution and super
fidelity option is the
use of LED-LCD
seamless video walls.
These are like
multiple TVs stacked
together in a matrix,
but unlike normal TV
screens, these have a
slim bezel gap. These
look pretty, but are
quite expensive.

6. Types of walls:
LED Walls
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The trendy and popular
modular LED dot-
matrix displays can
cover walls of
perpetually any size.
From a small corner
wall, to the size of the
façade on the Burj
Khalifa, LED displays
are super scalable and
can cover any shape
too. For indoor
interactive walls, these
have a limitation on
resolution, as high-
resolution LEDs come
with a 1mm pixel pitch,
and turn out to be
extremely pricy.

7. Making walls ‘digitally’
interactive
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When any of these
digital walls are
integrated with
special hardware
(usually sensors),
they become
‘interactive’.
Essentially instead of
content just shown
on the display, a user
can now change the
content on these
walls. To make this
content interactive, it
needs to be
programmed
accordingly. It’s the
same as making an
app for a wall-sized
smartphone.

8. Interactive Projectors
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With an advent of
digital whiteboards
in classrooms and
conference rooms, a
simpler way to make
an interactive wall is
to buy an interactive
projector. It is plug-
and-play hardware –
once connected, it
functions like a large
touch-screen.
Interactive projectors
have limitations in
terms of the display
area and also
shadows in case of
front projection.

9. Overlays
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Walls can be made
interactive using touch
overlay frames. These
consist of IR or surface
acoustic wave sensors that
can make the surface
interactive. A tempered
glass usually needs to be
placed between the frame
and the display, to make it
scratch resistant. The
frame is visible, the touch
response is splendid.

10. Gesture sensors
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Another idea to
make a digital wall
interactive is by using
a gesture sensor like
the Microsoft Kinect.
This is economical
and easy to install.
Yet, you need special
programming and its
not as easy as
making a website.
Usually gesture
interaction works
well with games, but
can also be a novel
experience with
other interfaces.

11. Conductive Paint/Copper tapes:
Making flex or vinyl sticker based
surfaces interactive
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Normal walls can be
made interactive!
Imagine a wall with a
sticker or something
painted and if you
touch that part. Using
conductive paint,
copper tapes and
capacitive sensors,
these interactions can
be turned into any
type of actions – turn
an appliance on, play
a sound or show
visual content using
projection mapping.
This indeed is a
wonderful technology.

12. Considerations
for
requirement
gathering
Is there a display
mapped on the wall?
If yes, is it projection,
video wall or LED
tiles?
Depending on the
display, what type of
interaction hardware
can be chosen –
touch, gesture etc.?
Does your client
really need
interactivity and why?
Do they have
content? If yes, is it
designed and
developed for a larger
wall size?
The budget?
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13. Which parties are involved
The Wall itself Visual Technology Interactivity Content
The fabricator or
interior fit-out
contractor
Audio-Visual or IT
Contractor
Interaction
hardware
integration
company like
PearlQuest
Interactive content
design and
development company
like PearlQuest
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14. Thank you
PearlQuest Technology FZE
E-4, Level 15, Damac XL Tower, Marasi Drive,
Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
Landline: +971 4 2460119
Email: info@pearlquest.ae
Web: www.pearlquest.ae
We to create interactive walls