Merry Christmas to you once again! And with Christmas just around the corner it means it’s time for our annual recap. 2025 has been yet another great year for Blackbox-av, jammed full of fun and exciting projects and even some new product launches. So just before we see in the new year, let’s take a look at some of our favourite things this year;
Eco-Town, Farington Waste Recovery Park
ICG Strategic Marketing Agency were given the massive task of creating Eco Town for Farington Waste Recovery Park. They came to us to supply and install all of the gadgets that would bring it to life…
“Blackbox-av helped us create an interactive experience in Eco Town, with a variety of hands-on activities across all three zones at the education centre. Games, touch screens, videos and audio were incorporated into every part of the walkway to create a memorable experience.”
– Sarah Huddy, Head of Design at ICG, Strategic Marketing Agency.
Touchscreen Kiosks with Lightbox 3 – Royal London Hospital
The Royal London Hospital is a place steeped in history while still remaining the UK’s busiest trauma centre and internationally renowned teaching hospital. In an effort to bring some of that history to the attention of patients, Lightbox 3 was utilised with our Free-Standing Kiosks by the Barts Health NHS Trust Archives team to present an archival history to visitors.
“Lightbox is one of the most intuitive pieces of software I have ever used… Since we launched the units at the hospital in February, the feedback on the look and feel of the units and their content has been brilliant, and we are delighted to have had the support of Blackbox-av in giving patients and visitors a new way of exploring the hospital’s history while they wait for appointments.”
– Kate Jarman, Trust Archivist at Barts Health NHS Trust
MI5 Exhibition – National Archives
With a vast collection of items and national documents dating back over 1,000 years, The National Archives are not only tasked with preserving these documents but also utilising them to create ever changing immersive and informative displays in their dedicated exhibition space.
Blackbox-av’s hardware and software solutions power each temporary exhibition at the National Archives, including their latest; The MI5 showcase – featuring our Short Throw Projectors, Heavy Duty Handsets, and Android Tablets running our Lightbox Lite software.
Recycling Stations – Wastesavers
Wastesavers aim to educate future generations about recycling from a young age, both how it works and its importance. This is best shown in an array of new interactive recycling exhibits they had commissioned – created and designed by Think Orchard and made a reality using hardware from Blackbox-av.
There are 5 stations in total – at each visitors take a recyclable item and insert it through a glowing ‘scanner’, triggering a sequence of events that begins with a short video about how Wastesavers recycle that particular material, be it Plastic, Metal, Glass, Paper or food.
Tablets with Lightbox Lite – American Bookbinders Museum
The American Bookbinders Museum’s self-guided tour begins with a selection of videos covering the early history of ‘the book’ and milestones in its development. These videos were presented using Lightbox Lite on our POS Android Tablets.
“The adaptability of Blackbox-av’s tablets allows them to also be used as effective marketing tools. They are updated quarterly sharing upcoming virtual lectures, workshops, and membership opportunities.”
– Sage Hirsch, Museum Manager at the American Bookbinders Museum
Audio Frames – I Am A Creator Exhibition
“We (Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries) wanted to include audio as part of our exhibition programme, so acquired audio frames for our larger library galleries. Currently we have one at Mansfield Central, West Bridgford and Worksop Libraries. We were able to invest through our Arts Council England funded project, I Am A Creator, through our status as an ACE National Portfolio Organisation.”
– Lucianna Gallucci, Librarian NPO for Retford Library
Oversized U-Turn Round – Petjades del Vi
Petjades del Vi (Footprints of Wine) is an urban trail that introduces visitors to the history of wine in Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain. Along the kilometre-long route through and around the city visitors come across seven stations that highlight locations and histories that have played a prominent role in the economic and social development of the city, all of them linked to the world of wine.
One such station contains our wind-up powered Oversized U-Turn Round built into the unit via a unique weathering steel case, matching the interpretive aesthetic of the trail perfectly. Visitors need only select a number on the dial and turn the handle to power the device.
Solar Audio Post – Port Talbot Rowan Tree
For the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, Port Talbot RBL created a memorial that includes a newly planted Rowan Tree and one of our Solar Audio Posts. Presenting the stories of both old and young veterans for years to come. Barry Woodley, Branch Secretary for Port Talbot RBL, elaborates further;
“It’s been a pleasure working with Blackbox-av to supply a modern, relevant, accessible and durable accompaniment to the Rowan tree, which Port Talbot RBL Branch have planted to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The Solar Audio Post supplied has allowed our branch to include young and old alike through their recordings on the Audio post commemorating VE 80.”
Single Cup Headphones – Paparoa Experience
As part of the larger multimedia experience, Blackbox-av’s Autoplay Single Cup Headphones provide audio in the Paparoa Experience while keeping noise pollution to a minimum in what often becomes a very busy space.
Thanks to their unique magnetic hangers, the Autoplay Single Cup Headphones trigger content upon pickup and automatically stop once returned. This allows for a very clean installation without the need of additional activation buttons – which suits the contemporary aesthetic of the Punangairi Visitor Experience Centre perfectly.
Introducing Feedback for Lightbox 3
The latest addition to our Lightbox 3 Multi-App Package, Feedback allows you to create easily customised visitor feedback forms. With multiple choice options, text fields and contact information capture. Built with the easy to use Lightbox 3 CMS, completed forms are stored locally or can be exported and emailed on a schedule.
Introducing our new VideoClip 4K
The VideoClip 4K offers amazing 4K quality video playback via HDMI. Loop or trigger content with up to 6 illuminated / 12 standard buttons – All in a compact and easy to program unit.
Our AV Production Showreel
At Blackbox-av we also provide the creation of dynamic content for your interpretive projects. Our showreel offers a glimpse into some of our best work, old and new, used for a range of clients and hardware setups.
Bring on 2026!
That about concludes our 2025 round up! We hope you’ve had as fruitful a year as us – it’s now time to enjoy the Christmas and New Year break so we’ll be closed from Dec 23rd – Jan 5th. We look forward to seeing you next year and finding out what 2026 has to offer in the world of interpretation!
