Most colleges and universities have a hall of fame honoring former student-athletes as well as coaches, staff members and friends of the program for their contributions to their school’s sports tradition. However, most halls of fame induct their classes each year and then assign them to the annals of history. Only those most dedicated to learning the school’s sports history make the effort to learn about athletic heroes and their contributions. In a manner befitting the increasingly digital world we inhabit, the University of Evansville has installed a prominent interactive display celebrating former student-athletes elected to the school’s hall of fame.
A Touch Screen Hall of Fame
Housed in an interactive kiosk within the University’s Carson Center, the University of Evansville’s Aces Hall of Fame presents over 40 years of inductees to the public with a large touch screen and interactive display. Prior to the installation of the interactive display, the more than 300 inductees of the Hall of Fame were displayed in a hall way, each with a single photo on a plaque. Finding a more suitable and dedicated space was cost prohibitive.
“The interactive display has become the centerpiece of the lobby inside the Carson Center, the primary sports facility on campus. The display has transformed the Hall of Fame from simple frames to a true interactive experience that has brought Hall of Famers back to the university. The project has exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
– Bob Pristash, UE Sports Information Director
To provide visitors with an impressive and immersive experience, Lieberman mounted a 42-inch HD touch-screen display capable of displaying every type of media imaginable. The touch-screen experience is highly engaging. Sound comes from an overhead speaker system which helps provide a rich experience while also minimizing the amount of sound drift through the lobby. The entire system is driven by a customizable and web-accessible content management system which makes it easy for the Sports Information Department staff to update content. The interactive display is driven from a website, but the display is locked down to ensure that the Hall of Fame content is always on the display. Users of the interactive system can search by sport, year of induction, or by name. One of the customizations ensures that the 1977 Basketball team, which perished in a plane crash, is honored by including a retrospective video as part of the content. In putting an interactive display in a public space, the University of Evansville continues to honor former students and staff who made their mark on the school’s athletic tradition, connecting the public and current members of the UE community with its’ rich history.
Bob Pristash, the University’s Sports Information Director, is extremely happy with the new system. “The interactive display has become the centerpiece of the lobby inside the Carson Center, the primary sports facility on campus. The display has transformed the Hall of Fame from simple frames to a true interactive experience that has brought Hall of Famers back to the university. The project has exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
If you would like to get a better feel of the experience of using the interactive display, the system is mirrored on the web at www.aceshof.com. Just visit the website and click on the “Get Started” button.