Audio column: Magic herbs and witchweed

Die Audiosäule im ZHAW-Hexengarten.

Strom wird über die Handkurbel erzeugt. Die Geschichten werden über die Tastatur ausgelöst.

Schilder informieren über den Inhalt der Pflanzen und Geschichten.  

Das Solarpanel generiert zusätzlichen Strom für den Betrieb der Audiosäule. 

Anlässlich der Einweihung demonstriert Regula Treichler Bratschi von der ZHAW die Audiosäule den zahlreich erschienenen Gästen. 

Project Description

What characteristics must a plant have to gain the reputation for magic qualities? There is usually only a small step between the unusual and the mysterious. For this reason, plants which are «out of the ordinary», have always fuelled our imagination and fantasy. In the «Witch’s Garden» of the Institute for Environment and Natural Resources of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) in Wädenswil, a small selection of plants is presented which at various times played a role in religion, cultural history or medicine. Plants which were already used and documented thousands of years ago.

Representative for all sections of the «Witch’s Garden», the ZHAW project managers have invented stories in each of which a plant plays a special role. Eight stories which could actually have happened like this at one time. A scientific section describing the appearance and mode of action of the featured medicinal plant completes each episode.

No electricity? No problem.
On behalf of the University of Applied Sciences, Audiotours GmbH recorded these texts and constructed an «audio column» which was specifically designed for this purpose and visually blends with the information concept of the rest of the garden. The individual stories are triggered at the keyboard and played over a built-in loudspeaker system. Since the audio column in the «Witch’s Garden» is installed outdoors and is not connected to the mains, power is generated by sunshine via photovoltaic cells. In bad weather or if the battery is flat, a crank on the outside helps to supply enough power for playing the recording. An adventure for young and old!

This ecologically sensible appliance is wind- and waterproof. It can be easily copied and is suitable for all outdoor applications such as nature and adventure parks or theme-based hiking paths.

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Key Project Facts

Project

Audio column «Hexengarten»
Since May 21, 2011

Technology

Photovoltaic cells with keyboard

Location

Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, 8820 Wädenswil
www.web.zhaw.ch



 

hexengarten
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Audio Sample (Sorry, this audio sample is available only in German)

Audio Column Hexengarten

Eight stories about magic herbs and witchweed.
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Audiotours in The Medias (Sorry, this article is available only in German)

Im Hexengarten wispert der Geschichtenroboter

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09.04.11 | PDF 371 KB