ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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We opened SOS (renamed "View from Space" at The Tech) on March 31st, and
we've had some success with it, especially during our live presentations.
Our interpreters begin with a "scripted" program, based mainly the climate
and global warming, and then segue to a more casual, visitor led experience.
We're lucky to have two interpreters who, for the time being, are dedicated
solely to View from Space, as they're able to take feedback from our
visitors and incorporate it into our program. Also, we've set up a blog so
that the main players of VfS can share visitor feedback and other related
stories.
While the visitors enjoy the formatted (scripted) programs, we've noticed
that they enjoy the experience even more when they get the chance to pick
out the datasets. Far and away, at The Tech, the most popular datasets are
those of other worlds! A bit of trivia: the most popular dataset that
doesn't exist (or we don't have) is Saturn.

To answer the sound question, we've simply been putting the system on "auto
play", over our SOS-dedicated sound system, between live presentations. This
allows everyone to hear the description of what's being seen on the globe.
People enjoy this, but not nearly as much as the live presentations.

We'll have more to report on formal evaluations as we proceed, I'm sure...

Rick McDaniel
Museum Programs Specialist, Presentations and Demos
The Tech Museum of Innovation
408-795-6236
www.thetech.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Siegel [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2006 1:44 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Science on the Sphere


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

I'd like to hear more about what people's experiences are with
Science on the Sphere?  Any anecdotal or formal evaluation to report?

Eric Siegel
New York Hall of Science
[log in to unmask]
(718) 699-0005 x 317



On May 6, 2006, at 3:25 PM, Clifford Wagner wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> *******
>
> There was a bit of a discussion at the AAM conference about these
> during the "Silverbacks and Young Turks"  session.    Erika Keisser
> from Ontario Science center, one of the young turks,  talked about
> her dislike of personal audio anythings in exhibits.   Her point is
> that these things preclude any social interaction between
> visitors.    It's a really good point.  When there is something
> interesting to us our first reaction is to pull someone else in to
> share the experience.  ("Come here! You've got to see this!")   If
> you need audio I think you are much better off with some sort of
> focussed sound device.  With that type of audio two or three people
> together know that each of them is hearing the same thing.  With
> something interesting being said, people will often nod to each
> other or mouth a wow and have a much better chance of actually
> discussing the topic with each other.  That social reinforcement
> will never happen with a personal audio device.
>
> Clifford Wagner
>
> On May 6, 2006, at 1:41 AM, Mike Shanahan wrote:
>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>> Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>> institutions.
>> *********************************************************************
>> ********
>>
>>
>>
>> Aloha,
>>
>>
>>
>> Has anyone had experience in using wireless headphones or wireless
>> audio
>> handsets in an exhibit?  We're trying to find the best solution for
>> providing audio information for a new exhibit (NOAA's Science on a
>> Sphere) and would like to avoid the messiness of headphone cords
>> etc. if
>> possible.  Has anyone tried wireless sets?  If so, do you lose a
>> certain
>> amount of them due to customers walking off with them?  Or just
>> picking
>> up the headsets on one place and leaving them in another place?  Any
>> insights you have would be great.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike Shanahan
>>
>> Education Director
>>
>> Bishop Museum
>>
>> 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu HI 96817
>>
>> Office: (808) 847-8235
>>
>> FAX: (808) 847-8250
>>
>> Cell/pager: (808) 386-1419
>>
>> www.bishopmuseum.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *********************************************************************
>> **
>> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://
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>> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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> **********************************************************************
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> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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