Cell Phone Forest

“Cell Phone Forest” and “Group Chat” are part of several interactive programs that lead visitors to think about their cellular devices from new perspectives.
In the “Cell Phone Forest,” visitors encounter large monitors that look like cellphones with colorful lock screens. If they get close, a camera detects the visitor, and the screen unlocks while a series of text messages pop-up with cellphone facts and trivia. Visitors then see themselves onscreen and are surprised when their heads are replaced by emojis! Using facial recognition technology, the emojis dynamically respond to the visitors' movements and expressions, from smiles to frowns. At the end of the experience, the image freezes so visitors can take a photo with their own cellphone.
By scanning a QR code on their personal device or using tablets placed throughout the exhibit, visitors can also access the “Group Chat.” Here they join a conversation between different characters in the exhibit, who also poll visitors about their cellphone use. The collective survey results are shown at the data visualization monitor near the end of the exhibit. The “Group Chat” also supports mobile text-to-speech software, as well as text-to-speech software delivered by tactile keypads integrated with the on-site tablets, enabling users to fully engage with the interactive media within the exhibit.