From experience I've installed and created items for a dizzying array of shows, kiosks, presentations, exhibitions, hospitals, educational, museum and schools in the last 20 years. These were placed on the sides of buildings, office fronts, remote islands, cinemas, shop windows and even throughout the Barcelona Film Festival, Spain for the King, Rome for the head of Samsung worldwide, just to name a few.
Thankfully as time and Moore's law have marched on the set up becomes easier, the equipment more capable and the compatibility problems easier to fix.
So I spent some time, researched all available options and weighed up the possibilities.
My considerations were :
Durability, cost, reliability, repairability, re-usage, longevity and easy of setting up; time spent tweaking and familiarity also came into it.
These are my conclusions on the best machinery to set up the screens that can be placed around the school(s).
There also should be one 'big' display in the future for public display, new parents to see, bulletin messages, logos, clocks and so on but I haven't covered it here. I also have left mountings out of the costings as Suzie can look into that.
PCs:
First off I'm discounting using PCs. It's nice that they are cheaper but there is no uniformity of hardware, infinite incompatibilities, insane amount of peripherals, WINDOWS and the P.I.T.A* percentage for long term installations over time is incredibly high.
I don't think anyone wants to use them for our purposes and the kids themselves are happier with the macs and I've factored reusability into my conclusions. That is, after we've used the chosen setup for displays we can then also use the machines for driving VR or as machines for students to use.
Also, trying to control a pc remotely can be problematic especially from a mac.
We'd have to buy basic software too which is an added pain.
Mini-Macs & Peripherals:
Originally this was going to be my choice. Mini macs are fairly powerful and would probably run the bulk of the applications I make. However they would not run VR very well and that is going to come soon and we need to be prepared. I went for the mid range mini mac here and the costings are all below. Beside the mac itself you'd need to get a screen. I aimed for around 28" to 30" minimum. And again the costings are below. I've bought some of the cheaper screens in the past and you do really get what you pay for. An ok screen might flicker a bit at some settings and the colours can be off compared to make but it's liveable with.
Because the mini-mac is just a box we also would need a keyboard, mouse, and importantly a good quality webcam. It's hard to find a nice one that works with a mac but I'd go for a Logitech if I had to. And of course, there are all the wires and connectors with this setup.
Finally it's unlikely that a cheap screen would have any decent speakers (if any) so we'd have to get some of those too. Probably logitech again. Once again these too would have to be mounted.
So although this was initially my route, the fiddling with wires, mounting of everything and too many parts was starting to look like trouble. Especially as the price difference with what I finally settled on is not much more.
Mounting all the bits n bobs might be a little troublesome.
The iMac:
The LOWEST spec 27" iMac is my choice. Or rather, it would be my choice (if it was my choice to make) because of these factors:
It's one piece with one plug. The last suggestion would be 3 sockets at least and a lot of wires.
There are no wires apart from the socket.
It comes with a camera, keyboard etc.
It's easily mountable.
The screen is insane. 5K
It's easily repaired.
It can run the VR sets with ease. Even the lowest spec is higher than anything in the other suggestions.
It has such high spec that it will last 3 to 4 years as a good machine.
And it's reusable. It can simply become a desktop machine if needed.
It can easily be controlled remotely from a laptop or from home by an administrator.
(I can set this up).
It comes with all the software needed. Not only to run my stuff but for use in its later years.
We would get a 7 to 12% discount on Apple equipment (if you use the main school, not international).
I wouldn't have to tweak or optimise my interactives before they would run on the machine as it can take the strain.
COSTINGS:
Mid-spec Mac-mini (83,000), Camera (10,000), Keyboard (7000), Mouse (5000), Monitor (20,000 to 60,000), Speakers (10 to 20,000).
Cost: 160,000+ approx
(VR) FUTURE-PROOF iMAC 27" : runs out of the box in one piece.
Cost: 205,000 approx
I discounted the 21" imac, as to run the VR and heavier interactives it would take the higher spec model which cost 180,000 approx, and the one above has way more power, 6 inches more screen and not a huge gap in the price.
Conclusion:
For really good interactive spaces we should go with the 27" iMac. If possible get a few of those.
To save money I will look at the iMacs you already have as they will be capable of running quite a lot of the interactives too but are not 'future-proof'. However, they are still good machines and if they are just doing nothing we should utilise them.
*The P.I.T.A percentage or tax is the PAIN IN THE ASS factor.
