The Tech Museum of The Tech Museum of InnovationInnovation

San Jose, CASan Jose, CA

The TechThe Tech

$113M facility - Opened Oct 1998$113M facility - Opened Oct 1998 132,000 sq. ft. – three levels132,000 sq. ft. – three levels IMAX Dome theatreIMAX Dome theatre Annual attendance ~450,000Annual attendance ~450,000

• Including 80,000 students & teachersIncluding 80,000 students & teachers

View from SpaceView from Space

Opened March 2006Opened March 2006 Part of ‘Green by Design’ galleryPart of ‘Green by Design’ gallery Several live presentations dailySeveral live presentations daily Live webcam view:Live webcam view:

• http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/view_from_space/http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/view_from_space/

View from Space (cont.)View from Space (cont.)

Built by our Shop:Built by our Shop:• RailingRailing• Operator’s consoleOperator’s console• Visitor kiosk Visitor kiosk • Projector mountsProjector mounts

Operator’s ConsoleOperator’s Console

Touch screen to select playlistsTouch screen to select playlists Locking coverLocking cover Audio and lighting controlsAudio and lighting controls Remotely connected to serverRemotely connected to server

Operator’s Console - InteriorOperator’s Console - Interior Crown amplifierCrown amplifier Rane EqualizerRane Equalizer Sennheiser Wireless Sennheiser Wireless

headsetheadset Longview extenderLongview extender

• All computers stay back All computers stay back in the server roomin the server room

Visitor KioskVisitor Kiosk

For when there’s no live presenterFor when there’s no live presenter Visitor controls the sphereVisitor controls the sphere Locked out during live presentationsLocked out during live presentations

Visitor Kiosk (cont.)Visitor Kiosk (cont.)

Touch screen selection of datasetsTouch screen selection of datasets Trackball can rotate imageTrackball can rotate image Bilingual textBilingual text

Visitor Kiosk (cont.)Visitor Kiosk (cont.)

Configurable button ‘lock out’Configurable button ‘lock out’• Pounding on all of them doesn’t workPounding on all of them doesn’t work

Comments in playlist used forComments in playlist used for• English/Spanish textEnglish/Spanish text• Text formattingText formatting• Duration of dataset playbackDuration of dataset playback

Code available to other museumsCode available to other museums

SeatingSeating

Bleacher seating works for usBleacher seating works for us

ProjectorsProjectors

Ceiling-mounted projectorsCeiling-mounted projectors• Vibration problem – we’re changing itVibration problem – we’re changing it

Floor-mount signs to prevent tamperingFloor-mount signs to prevent tampering

DatasetsDatasets

Created:Created:• MP4 from Modis Global Fire MapsMP4 from Modis Global Fire Maps• Ice Sublimation (evaporation) recorded from Ice Sublimation (evaporation) recorded from

6/15 to 6/19 by the Phoenix Mission 6/15 to 6/19 by the Phoenix Mission Converted most everything to MP4Converted most everything to MP4

• Allows trackball rotation on kioskAllows trackball rotation on kiosk Live presentationsLive presentations

• Solar System ExplorationSolar System Exploration• Earth (Blue Marble, SST, etc.)Earth (Blue Marble, SST, etc.)

FutureFuture

Place curtains to block summer Place curtains to block summer ambient lightambient light

Install floor mounts for projectorsInstall floor mounts for projectors• Vibrations from upper level stampedesVibrations from upper level stampedes

Replace our Sony projectorsReplace our Sony projectors• Prism block failures Prism block failures • Moving to model VPLCX155Moving to model VPLCX155

Upgrade to latest SOS build (really!)Upgrade to latest SOS build (really!)

Questions?Questions?