Research
Competitive Analysis: Atlantic City Pier
Since we started research while it was still to cold for many of the Pittsburgh fountains to be turned on, we did an online competitive analysis of other interactive fountains around the country. One fountain that was particularly relevant to our project is an indoor fountain at the Atlantic City Pier. The fountain uses a series of overhead cameras to track people walking by, and engages them with a series of three mini-games and light shows. These provided very interesting examples of ways to attract people's attention, and encourage people to interact with each other as well as the fountain.
Follow Me
"Follow Me" is an introductory game designed to capture people's attention and draw them into the fountain's activities. The cameras track up to five people walking by the fountain, which follows them around the space with a uniquely colored jet of water. Once small groups have gathered, the fountain moves into the next game.
Paint the Fountain
"Paint the Fountain" is a competitive game with the goal of filling the fountain with the most of one of five colors. Colored spotlights are projected onto the ground, and colored jets of water shoot up higher depending on how many people gather in the circles of light. As more people gather, they “paint” the fountain with more and larger jets of that color.
Gong Show
The final game is a take off of the classic “Gong Show.” Once a large enough group has gathered the water and lights would spin around, selecting a random member of the audience with the spotlight. The fountain would then encourage them to dance with a short music selection. If the person did not participate, the fountain would respond with a disappointed sound effect and pick someone else. If the person did respond, the fountain would reward them with a little dance of its own, choreographed to the music.