Go inside the body of Ötzi

For the twentieth anniversary of the discovery of the ‘ice man’ of Similaum, Practix developed a special interactive table for the Archaeological Museum of Bolzano for the successful ‘Ötzi20’ exhibition. In the exhibition, the multi-touch, multi-user interactive table recreates a laboratory bed, on which it is possible to explore the body of Ötzi. The 65-inch screen allows the mummy to be reproduced in real size, shown stretched out in full detail. The system was designed with the aim of allowing a group of people to be able to experience the exploration of the body of the mummy together.

The examination of the body is possible using virtual viewers. Visitors can move their viewers around above the image of Ötzi. Through the use of these instruments, a group of visitors can explore the inside of the body. Starting from the skin it is possible to go deeper and deeper into the structure of Ötzi’s body, passing through the epithelial tissues and muscles and arriving at the skeleton.

During the exploration of the mummy it is possible to come across special points that, if touched, show in-depth information on that particular area of the mummy. Such information boxes, shown in the user’s language, allow users to gain a more in-depth understanding of various aspects of the life of the Similaum, man before his death, such as the diet he followed, the tattoos found on his skin and other interesting scientific facts.

In this installation, Practix has demonstrates an example of a highly involving and efficient museum tool. A design aimed at multiple users is absolutely essential for a truly fascinating individual and group experience.

Go to the Öetzi20 exhibition site.