The Streets of Old Timaru

The South Canterbury Museum came to us to seek advise on displaying a historic map of Timaru while showing some old photos of various locations of the city centre utilising the technology of a touch screen display.

This was an interesting challenge due to the limitations of the touch screen in that it only recognises the touch and drag input, so no pinch zoom or finger scrolling gestures could be used, which most people are accustom to with mobile devices. Our challenge was to come up with a solution to prompt the movements and actions of a user and to make that action give the correct response in the simplest way possible.

We designed several layouts and tested these with some crude prototypes and found the best methods were utilising large scroll bars and large buttons. It may sound crude but we think it works. The true test is now at the Museum, head on down, try it out and let us know your thoughts.

Throughout the display you will find some great old photos telling of Timaru’s past and some fantastic panoramic photos of modern Timaru supplied by photographer Craig Perkins.

If you scout deep enough you will also discover a slider featuring some ‘now and then’ photos, giving you a good taste of life back in the day, dogs and horse were part of every day life in the main street of Timaru.

Read more in the full article featured in the Timaru Herald.