Classroom of the Future

Artworks -Wildlife Surveillance

LCD screen embedded in the wall of the classroom showing a live camera view of the lake

Wildlife Surveillance | Camera Obscura | The Ballpool

The central aspect of the integrated artwork is the wildlife surveillance system, with a range of cameras allowing the children to observe the wildlife surrounding the new building from inside the classroom.
Two large (40") LCD screens - one built into the floor and one embedded in the wall - can play back images from a range of cameras placed in various locations around (and under) the classroom and wildlife lake. Part of the classroom floor is made of glass so that the children can also see what is happening directly under the classroom at any time.

above left: Mossbrook science teacher Heather Woods and the LCD screen embedded in the wall of the classroom;
above centre: :An LCD screen embedded in the floor of the classroom shows a live camera view from beneath the classroom. On the wall the see-through rainwater cistern of the WC is visible through a glass wall; above right: interior view of the classroom towards the lake.

The screens can show live video at all times, which can also be archived to be played back at any time. This includes images captured at night (observing wildlife including badgers, bats, foxes etc). A timelapse option means that nature and wildlife events can also be recorded over a much longer period of time for instance weeks rather than hours.

Additionally there is a 'telepresent' remote control boat (below) with wireless video cameras onboard set to capture images of lake life both under and above water and transmit them live back to the Classroom.

Heather Woods, Mossbrook's science teacher plans to be proactive in relation to the surveillance, and is developing ways of encouraging nesting and attracting certain forms of wildlife for observation.