Rochester Bridge Trust
How CDS Designed a Life-Size Interactive Touch Totem That Felt ‘Like a Hologram
Overview
In April 2025, Crystal Display Systems Ltd (CDS) was approached by the Rochester Bridge Trust (RBT) to support a month-long exhibition at Rochester Cathedral. The month-long exhibition celebrated the pioneering Short Brothers, the world’s first aircraft manufacturers, renowned for developing groundbreaking floatplanes along the River Medway.
The event combined heritage, engineering, and community engagement, offering visitors a rare opportunity to explore Medway’s aviation history in a unique cathedral setting.
Challenge
RBT had commissioned a series of interviews with key individuals involved in the restoration of the Short Scion Floatplane G-AEZF, a historic aircraft central to the exhibition. They needed an innovative way to transform these interviews into an engaging, interactive public attraction.
With the RBT team focused on coordinating the exhibition, CDS was tasked with designing and delivering a solution that would:
- Present the interviews in an immersive and user-friendly format
- Be visually striking while durable in a public space
Encourage visitor interaction and engagement
Solution
CDS designed and deployed a 55” interactive touch totem, creating a life-size appearance for the video interviews—one visitor even described the experience as “like a hologram.”
Key features of the solution included:
- Life-size video display with an attractor loop inviting visitors to touch the screen
- Interactive menu allowing visitors to select interviews based on their interests
- Premium design: tempered glass face, rounded corners, ultra-slim profile, aluminium surround, and a narrow screen border for a tablet-like aesthetic
- Durability: robust housing to protect internal components in a public setting
The totem became a focal point of the crypt exhibition, providing an intuitive and engaging way for visitors to explore Medway’s aviation heritage.
Exhibition Highlights
At the heart of the exhibition was the Short Scion Floatplane G-AEZF, meticulously restored by the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society Limited (MAPSL) and funded by RBT. Built in 1937 at the Short Brothers factory near the Cathedral, the floatplane was displayed in the historic Nave, offering a striking centrepiece.
The exhibition, “Pioneers of Flight: Made in Medway,” curated by Allison Young and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, featured:
- Restored aircraft and engineering artefacts
- Archival photographs and artworks
- Oral histories and video interviews (via CDS interactive totem)
Company statement
“This exhibition not only honours the Short Brothers’ extraordinary contribution to aviation but also shines a light on Medway’s unique role in shaping modern engineering. At CDS, we were proud to be part of this event”
— Christopher Bartram, Managing Director, CDS
Visitors praised the immersive video experience, with many drawn to the touch totem as a highlight of the exhibition.
Outcome
The CDS interactive totem successfully elevated visitor engagement, enabling the Rochester Bridge Trust to present its commissioned interviews in an innovative and memorable format. The solution complemented the exhibition’s heritage narrative, bridging the past with modern display technology.
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