Overview and Experience
The USGA Experience, a key feature of the Golf House Pinehurst campus, offers 4,000 square feet of permanent exhibits. These immersive displays highlight the USGA's history, logistics, and efforts to advance golf. Alongside the lobby exhibits and retail area, visitors can explore two major galleries: The Science of Golf and Championship.
I was responsible for coming up with prototypes to showcase the interactions at the Science of Golf section.
Discovery and Protyping
Our mission was clear: to create installations that would evoke emotion and educate visitors about the golf ball. Seeking to demystify the aristocratic aura surrounding golf, our aim was to make the sport more accessible and relatable to all. I spearheaded the development of two prototypes focused on showcasing the dynamics of the golf ball through interactive installations. My role involved devising the technology necessary to bring these installations to life, aligning seamlessly with the visuals we had crafted.
Technology and Design Execution
We aimed at controlling the cue point of a video using a physical slider and also for the viewer to be able to switch between three videos using buttons.
The challenge was to integrate external hardware sliders and buttons and make them interactive for a digital interface.
TouchDesigner was built on Python and using some simple commands we could achieve some amazing results.
Result and Impact
I successfully developed several prototypes that, when combined with the expertise of the fabrication and media teams, culminated in the installation at the USGA museum. This project served as a valuable learning experience in Python, Arduino sensors, Phidgets, and more. Moreover, it exemplified the power of cross-functional collaboration, demonstrating how different teams can come together to transform a bold concept into reality.