Video-Floor Display Enlivens Kazakhstan Museum

The National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana, the country’s capital, now boasts what is probably the world’s largest electronic floor display. The 5,650-sq.-ft., immersive LCD display was created by assembling more than 900 individual, 46-in.-long, floor-display units manufactured by Global Display Solutions (GDS), an Italian company that operates a U.S. office in Rockford, IL.

The 74,000-sq.-m. museum, which opened in July 2014, required six years to build. It’s divided into halls (mini museums), and this display encompasses the entire Hall of Astana and depicts the city at various times in its history. The video-floor experience coincides with a scale model of the city. The screen required special structure and coated glass to withstand the weight of visitors (and could reportedly support a car) walking on them, while also providing an anti-slip, anti-scratch surface and anti-glare qualities for better viewing and to protect the display. A series of video media players portrays loops of information through the monitors. Each display has an embedded PC to drive the content seamlessly throughout the floor.

The displays feature construction-grade glass and GDS’ “G-Bond” bonding treatment to provide efficient thermal management, eliminate dust or condensation between the front glass and LCD screens and to provide consistent viewing in all ambient light conditions. Additionally, a cooling
system thermally manages the display from below. The outer bezel structure needed alteration; the weight of pedestrians needed to be transferred to the floor underneath.

The floor display’s built-in, diagnostic system monitors the display’s performance, and a split-image system ensures continuity between proximate images. We’re certain that Borat would be proud.