Welcome to the Neighbourhood (a Celestia project)
Posted: 18.12.2003, 14:42
We have been working hard modifying Celestia and adding some new features for a public understanding of science project, so we thought it about time we let other Celestia users and developers know what we have been up to. 
(I’ve been meaning to update my Website too but I haven’t had the time yet. 
)
Welcome to the Neighbourhood
The aim of WTTN is to make space accessible to people who think that astronomy isn’t for them. It consists of a ‘sculpture’ that will be sited in a public place along with a touchscreen running a modified version of Celestia.
The sculpture includes an electronic sign that can be oriented in any direction (controlled by Celestia). It points at objects in space selected by the user. The name of the object and its distance from the sculpture’s location (calculated by Celestia) are shown on the LED display.
On selecting an object, the sign slews round to point at it and display the changing distance. On the touchscreen, the user is presented with a two views (a split-screen script controls the display). On the left is the Earth as it looks from a fixed distance in the direction of the object. On the right is the object itself from the same distance away in the direction of Earth. The user can thus get a sense of the scale of the object they are looking at. Users can also get information about the object and see where it is in the Solar System. The motion and time controls work on both views simultaneously.
Here’s a screenshot showing the current stage of development. A touchscreen interface along these lines will be tested with users in January. Celestia users will notice that WTTN users do not have as much control as they do. This is because WTTN is designed for casual use by people with no prior interest in astronomy. It has to be immediately clear how to navigate the program.
Adam
(I’ve been meaning to update my Website too but I haven’t had the time yet. )
Welcome to the Neighbourhood
The aim of WTTN is to make space accessible to people who think that astronomy isn’t for them. It consists of a ‘sculpture’ that will be sited in a public place along with a touchscreen running a modified version of Celestia.
The sculpture includes an electronic sign that can be oriented in any direction (controlled by Celestia). It points at objects in space selected by the user. The name of the object and its distance from the sculpture’s location (calculated by Celestia) are shown on the LED display.
On selecting an object, the sign slews round to point at it and display the changing distance. On the touchscreen, the user is presented with a two views (a split-screen script controls the display). On the left is the Earth as it looks from a fixed distance in the direction of the object. On the right is the object itself from the same distance away in the direction of Earth. The user can thus get a sense of the scale of the object they are looking at. Users can also get information about the object and see where it is in the Solar System. The motion and time controls work on both views simultaneously.
Here’s a screenshot showing the current stage of development. A touchscreen interface along these lines will be tested with users in January. Celestia users will notice that WTTN users do not have as much control as they do. This is because WTTN is designed for casual use by people with no prior interest in astronomy. It has to be immediately clear how to navigate the program.
Adam
