Electrosonic returned to long-time client The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles to
design and install a permanent exhibit exploring Allied appeasement prior to World
War II. The dynamic new multimedia presentation uses letters, archival footage,
speeches and interactives, to explore how the political decisions made by Allied
leaders in the years leading up to the war made Hitler’s rise to power possible.

The Appeasement exhibit is housed in the main exhibition space at the museum
opposite the display containing the original Vienna office of Simon Wiesenthal and
an exhibit honouring Pope John Paul II and his solidarity with world Jewry.
Electrosonic was challenged to fast-track the project in a tight time frame; part of
the work was completed while the museum was open to the public.

The Appeasement exhibit’s main feature is a giant relief map of Europe, which
spans a curved wall, and its companion touch monitors.

“A Panasonic PT-DZ870LK ultra-short throw projector makes the map come alive
with video images of the war’s progression as it highlights how territories and
borders morphed when World War II got underway and armies advanced,’ explains
Electrosonic project manager Steve Calver.

The projector is mounted on the ceiling about two feet away from the map, which is
covered with a slightly reflective projection surface. A 7thSense server warps the
images onto the map which was created by Cortina Productions. A Dakota Audio
ceiling speaker is mounted above the map to provide a narrowly directed audio
field.

Adjacent to the map is a single Planar 70-inch multi-touch monitor, which enables
up to four visitors to drill down and learn more about the subject. Headphones by
the monitor allows visitors to listen to the specific content they are viewing. NLE
computers drive the interactive content.

Electrosonic added hardware to the equipment rack in the Wiesenthal office and
added programming for the new show to its ESCAN control software profile without
disrupting existing playback for the other exhibits in the main space.

Electrosonic was also tasked with replacing all 24 of the museum’s card reader CRT
monitors with new 21.5-inch NEC LCD monitors. Upon entering the museum, each
visitor receives a photo passport card with the story of a person whose life was
changed by the events of the Holocaust. At one other location, the card provides
additional information about that person as the war progressed and a printout at the
final station.

Electrosonic employed Chief mounts for the 70-inch Planar monitor and the new
NEC LCD monitors. BrightSign players and Extron extenders were also used.

Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign was the architect. Cortina Productions was the film
and interactives producer. Coastal served as the general contractor for the new
exhibit; the museum has a service contract with Electronic for technical
maintenance.