ESA Showroom Hyperwall

The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully collaborated with Ars Electronica in Linz on several projects, which has led to ongoing cooperation with Ars Electronica Solutions and thus also with Garamantis.

In 2017, Garamantis was commissioned by Ars Electronica Solutions to develop impressive interactive software that is presented on a screen wall consisting of 9 passive full-HD monitors in the ESA showroom in Frascati (Italy). The software addresses the 3×3 screen grid known as the “Hyperwall” with a native resolution of 5,760 pixels wide by 3,240 pixels high. The centrepiece of the software is a freely rotatable and zoomable globe on which various POIs (Points of Interest) can be ‘flown’.

ESA hosts delegations from Member States and other selected guests in its showroom at the Earth Observation Centre (ESRIN). ESA staff use a tablet to control the globe during their presentations and can activate different POIs as well as ready-made stories for non-linear presentations. Impressive 3D models of satellites are part of the presentation, as are high-resolution images and 4K videos of Earth observation activities and ESA sites and projects around the world.

Native resolution on the screen

Garamantis achieves the extreme depth of detail of the presentations and absolutely smooth 3D animations through native software development and powerful PC hardware. When integrating the Hyperwall into ESA’s infrastructure, it was also necessary to meet the highest security requirements.