OmniGlobe® Technology

ARC Science Simulations strives to provide the most visually appealing digital spherical display available. Our Proprietary Enhanced Contrast Screen allows for the highest contrast and image quality and only the OmniGlobe® has a matte finish screen providing a natural appearance and no reflections from room lights.

The innovation doesn't stop there. With ARC's patented reflective optics, we are able to combine two wide format High DefInition (HD) projectors to create the 60” Dual OmniGlobe®, Reaching a much higher level of brightness and image detail, and the ultimate in image quality.

OmniGlobe® Configurations

The OmniGlobe® is currently available with 32 inch or 60 inch diameter spheres. With our proprietary Enhanced Contrast Screen treatment, both show very well under brighter ambient light conditions, and brilliantly under typical museum lighting conditions.

And for installations with more limited space, ARC also offers the “DayGlobe™”, a half-sphere system for wall mounting.

Each system is customized with the appropriate projectors for the lighting conditions in the desired display area, the content to be run, the level of interactivity wanted, the kiosk control system and sound system if requested. ARC understands that each clients requirements are unique and we will recommend the most appropriate configuration for each project.

OmniGlobe® Software

The OmniGlobe comes with two software packages pre-installed:

ARC's OmniExplorer™ presentation software allows for OmniGlobe owners to quickly and easily change the content displayed on the OmniGlobe. This can be done by an administrator behind the scenes to periodically change the OmniGlobe content, or by a teacher or instructor wishing to give a specific presentation. Adding new content is as easy as creating and saving images into an appropriate file folder. OmniExplorer will take care of changing the geometry of the image so that it is displayed correctly on the OmniGlobe and will automatically generate icons for that content for selection with a mouse or touch screen.

The OmniExplorer software provides for many possible levels of viewer interactivity allowing for the viewer to change images or animated sequences, rotate and tilt images and animations while playing, and go backward and forward in an animated sequence. Multiple projects can be created for various topics, and linked together for a hierARChical organization if desired. A presentation on the planets could include sub-projects dealing with the planets, their moons, the sun, and other space related content. A presentation on global warming issues could tie together climate data, human impact, and ecological impact.

OmniExplorer can operate in either a presentation design mode or an interactive exhibit mode. In design mode, the project designer can create custom presentations or content screens for the OmniGlobe. Animations, images, and interface behaviors can be selected and assigned to touch screen buttons for use during the presentation or for user interactivity. In exhibit mode, the project design features don't appear so that visitors can only select the images or animations offered by the active project.

ARC's Geometer™ software is used for formatting movies and animated sequences for the spherical screen geometry. Input movie frames are 2:1 rectangular images created in a 2D animation program such as Adobe AfterEffects®. Input frames can also be created with 3D animation software by using the Geometer™ to combine four camera views. Such frame sequences are then converted by the Geometer™ into the required "super fisheye" geometry before final movie compilation using an appropriate animation codec.

Although movies are not as interactive as images and animated sequences, they are appropriate for “story-telling” presentations. They may be long duration and incorporate many graphic sources and effects including audio narration and music. For exhibits using only movies, two or more movies can be selected using an Adobe Flash® interface designed for the exhibit.

OmniGlobe® Advantages

ARC Science Simulations had a long history in Earth and space simulations before we invented the first spherical display system and installed the first OmniGlobe® in 2002. This commitment to high content aesthetics and good science is consistently found in the content we continue to create and provide for the OmniGlobe®.

ARC Science Simulations provides the most accurate depiction of the Earth and planets in space and creates high quality, interactive animations depicting the changing Earth.

The OmniExplorer™ presentation software provides for many possible levels of viewer interactivity. Using a touch screen, viewers can select images or sequences, turn layers on and off, rotate and tilt images and animations and go backward and forward in animations. And OmniExplorer™ sets a new standard for ease of creating interactive presentations.