ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Hi there

Here in New Zealand a number of museums and science centres have been
working/trialling augmented reality technology exhibits in various
exhibitions with the technical support derived from Christchurch-based Human
Interface Technology Lab NZ and their Magic Book technology (See
http://www.hitlabnz.org/index.php?page=projects for more info on their
projects and talk to Mark Billinghurst the director for detailed info).

We here at Te Manawa Science Centre have on our floor a "virtual orrery"
created with their augmented reality technology.I would happily send you
some photos/explanation of off-line. There have been some issues around the
usability and maintenance of the interface (handheld glasses incorporating a
head-mounted display) but this technology is advancing all the time. The
exhibit is based around a simple activity using AR cue cards (which have
virtual planets attached that are veiwable through the handheld
displays).The visitor places the cue cards in the correct planet location
spaces on a 'map' of the solar system and when the 9 planets are in their
correct order from the sun the exhibit shows a fully animated solar system
model orbiting the sun.

Vistors are both fascinated by the technology creating the exhibit and the
fact they can get a "close-up" look at parts of the solar system in 3D.

Bettina Anderson
Concept Leader: Science and Technology

Te Manawa
Museum | Gallery | Science Centre
LIFE | ART | MIND

396 Main Street
Private Bag 11055
Palmerston North
New Zealand

T   64 6 355 5000
M  025 668 9449
F   64 6 358 3552
E   [log in to unmask]
W  http://www.temanawa.co.nz




-----Original Message-----
From: Marcelo Knobel [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:03 p.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: virtual reality exhibits

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*

Hello everyone,
We are in the midst of researching virtual-reality based exhibits and
immersive experiences throughout the Science Centers, and would appreciate
your feedback on exhibits and projects that make a good use of electronic
technology on educational products, with some elements of virtual and
augmented reality in exhibits.
We are designing an augmented-reality exhibit system to present nanoscience
and nanotechnology (but in principle it would work on any topical science
content) in the form of an adventure challenge, a sort of immersive game.
If possible, please send me your input on different institutions, including
contact information (including particular individuals whom I may speak with
further, if you have it), and/or examples of nice projects you have seen in
your ventures throughout different museums.
Thank you all for your assistance in advance.  Much appreciated!
Marcelo Knobel
UNICAMP
Campinas Science Museum
Brazil

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the message
SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Caution:  The content of this email is confidential and may be legally privileged.  If it is not intended for you, please email the sender immediately and destroy the original message.  You may not copy, disclose or use the contents in any way.

The sender's email address in this message may constitute a designation of an information system for the purposes of section 11(a) of the Electronic Transactions Act 2002 (New Zealand).  You agree that, in sending an email message to that address, the time of receipt will be when the message actually comes to the attention of the addressee, not the time the message enters the designated information system.   Thank You.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]