Electronic Arts- Multimedia Studies students Jody McFarlen and Mike Owens are living the MSU Public Affairs mission through their partnership with a much-loved local museum.  Inspired by interactive media at museums overseas, McFarlen chose to use her senior thesis as an opportunity to bring new ways of learning about the world to Springfield’s Discovery Center.

McFarlen and Owens have used their knowledge and creativity to enhance the “World Wise” exhibit, which consists of six kiosks representing different countries.  Now, in addition to the physical aspects of the exhibit McFarlen and Owens have added a high-tech touch.  McFarlen writes, “We are using augmented reality to add interactive content to the exhibit. This means that a visitor will use a phone or tablet to scan an object in real space. In response, a digital asset such as an interactive web page, video, or animated 3D model will appear in the screen and will seem to be floating in the actual space of the exhibit.”   McFarlen and Owens are also recording the voices of  local students and faculty who are fluent in the exhibit’s languages to add to the visitor’s experience.

For their innovative work with the Discovery Center and their desire to engage with the community, we are excited to name Jody McFarlen and Mike Owens as February’s Public Affairs Spotlights!