The Play Guides were
developed as a means of conveying information about the
contents of the Play Zone to visitors who might be
queuing or waiting. In basic terms it consists of an LCD
television screen mounted on an aluminium frame which is
worn by a member of the Dome staff. A set of illuminated
buttons on the front panel control digital video tracks
which can be selected by the visitors.
Each clip gives a brief
taster of one of 18 games within the Play Zone allowing
visitors to choose what they want to see. A miniature
camera allows visitors to see themselves in the
television screen when the clips are not playing. The
purpose of the Guide is to provide information and
entertainment simultaneously.
The Guides are robustly
constructed in aluminium tubing and sheeting and attached
to the body with a special corset-style harness. They run
from 12 volt Nickel Cadmium battery packs that last for
up to 3 hours in normal conditions. There are currently
four operating in the Millennium Dome for periods of up
to 12 hours per day.
