Museum-L:
Has anyone heard of this software before? What's the scoop?
Larisa Overmier
John F. Kennedy University
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Forwarded message:
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: 96-05-08 07:19:31 EDT
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 1996--Boston's Museum of Science
is using LabVIEW(R) virtual instrumentation software and data
acquisition (DAQ) hardware from National Instruments (Austin, Texas)
(NASDAQ:NATI) in a revolutionary new exhibit that builds visitors'
confidence and ability in scientific thinking.
With Investigate! A See-For-Yourself Exhibit, visitors step
right into the role of scientist -- asking questions, conducting
experiments, and drawing conclusions. The goal of Investigate! is
to help people recognize and develop scientific thinking skills.
The "hands-on, minds-on" exhibit is funded by a $1.6 million
grant from the National Science Foundation, funds from private
foundations, corporate sponsors including National Instruments, and
private individuals. A portion of these funds subsidized a workshop
for more than 30 museum exhibit developers from around the country to
learn how Investigate! was developed.
"The purpose of the exhibit is to have visitors draw their own
conclusions from data they actively accumulate -- answers are not
simply provided by the Museum," said Larry Ralph, director of
exhibit design and production at the museum.
"So when we were developing the exhibit, we looked for a software
environment that gave us ease of programming, an ability to construct
a custom user interface that would appeal to many different visitors,
and an adaptability to a wide variety of sensors. LabVIEW delivers
all of this - plus, we can create run-time exhibits that are
resistant to 'hacking' from visitors."
Investigate! Encourages Scientific Thinking
Investigate!, a 4,200 square foot exhibit, is divided into three
sections. The Lure of Questions elicits curiosity and hypothesizing
-- critical aspects of thinking like a scientist. In The Search for
Evidence, visitors use scientific methods of investigation to explore
phenomena that affect our daily lives. In The Art of Drawing
Conclusions, visitors learn how to interpret evidence and draw their
own conclusions.
Eight Macintosh-based stations in the exhibit feature LabVIEW
software and a variety of interface hardware options that are used by
visitors to conduct a wide variety of experiments. The stations
include:
-- Skin Sensor -- Similar in concept to a lie detector, the skin
resistance sensor controlled by LabVIEW monitors visitor reacts to
questions, smells, and sounds by graphing fingertip voltage in real
time.
-- Go With the Flow -- Visitors use LabVIEW to explore how a
fish's shape determines its speed and ability to navigate. LabVIEW
monitors special sensors, which determine the friction caused by the
shape of each fish. Visitors can also determine the friction caused
by a rubber ball or a square block.
-- Galileo's Drop Stop -- Visitors repeat Galileo's experiments
at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Visitors drop various objects, such as
a rubber ball and a crumpled piece of paper, simultaneously from a
12-foot tower. LabVIEW measures the acceleration of each object and
graphs the results.
-- Motion Match -- Using a Polaroid ultrasonic motion detector
read by a serial port device controlled by LabVIEW, visitors either
match given time/distance patterns (graphs) on the Macintosh screen
or create their own.
-- Temperature Investigation Station -- Visitors can monitor and
review real-time data acquisition with LabVIEW controlling a Lab-NB
plug-in DAQ board that uses special sensors to measure increases or
decreases in temperature. Supplied with hot and cold water as well
as paper cups, styrofoam cups, and a fan, visitors can explore
whether hot water cools down faster in a paper or styrofoam cup; if
blowing on a hot liquid cools it more quickly; and whether hot or
cool liquid approaches ambient temperature more quickly.
-- Museum Buttons -- Visitors test various styles of pushbuttons
and give their opinions on their favorites. LabVIEW keeps tally and
graphs the scores. "This is a real problem for us, because we want
to use pushbuttons that work the best for an extended period of
time," said Ralph. "So LabVIEW is also helping us with the
maintenance of all our Museum exhibits."
LabVIEW is also involved in the Idea Exchange, which is a series
of computer and video stations located throughout the exhibit.
Visitors use these stations to find out what others think about a
given problem, check accumulating data, and record their own results
and conclusions for others to see.
For example, one Idea Exchange involves the design of a solar
car. Users select the one characteristic they believe is the most
important in the success of a solar car (such as level of light, gear
ratio, weight of the car, and so on). They then build a model car
and race it on a solar track. LabVIEW collects the data from each
visitor regarding their resulting car design to share with future
visitors.
"Investigate! breaks down the psychological barriers many people
have around science and creates a fun, dynamic environment where
everyone can experience the joy of discovery," said David W. Ellis,
President and Director of the Museum. "With practice, thinking like
a scientist could be as natural as driving a car or riding a bike."
About National Instruments
National Instruments, headquartered in Austin, manufactures
software and hardware products for PCs and workstations that
scientists and engineers worldwide use to build virtual
instrumentation systems. These systems are used for research and
industrial applications, such as automated testing, laboratory
automation, advanced research, industrial control, factory
automation, physiological monitoring, numerical analysis, and data
visualization.
National Instruments stock is traded on the NASDAQ National
Market System under the symbol NATI. Further information on National
Instruments may be obtained from the company's SEC filings or by
directly contacting the company's Investor Relations Department at
512/349-5090.
About the Museum of Science
Recognized as one of the leading, informal science educational
institutions in the United States, the Museum of Science (a 501(c)
(3) not-for-profit organization), located in Boston, takes a
hands-on approach to science that attracts more than 1.6 million
visitors annually. Appealing to children and adults alike, this
world-class, pioneering science institution, representing all the
basic sciences, invites people to learn about and enjoy science by
participating in fun-filled, creative activities.
The Museum is open daily (Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas)
from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday-Thursday (until 7:00 p.m. from
July 5 - Sept. 2) and 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Friday. For more
information about the Museum of Science, call 617/723-2500.
For More Information
For more information about Investigate! A See-For-Yourself
Exhibit, call Carol Thistle at 617/589-0255. Information is also
available on the World Wide Web at http://www.mos.org/mos/tempex/
investigate.html.
For more information about LabVIEW or virtual instrumentation,
contact National Instruments, 6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin,
Texas 78730 5039, 512/794-0100. Or call toll free in the United
States and Canada at 800/433-3488, fax 512/794-8411, e-mail
[log in to unmask] Readers can also access information through the
company's web site at http://www.natinst.com.
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NOTE: Product and company names listed are trademarks or trade
names of their respective companies.
CONTACT:
National Instruments, Austin
Maura Powers, 512/349-5085 (Editors)
or
National Instruments, 512/794-0100 (Readers)
or
Boston's Museum of Science, Boston
Carol Thistle, 617/589-0255 (Editors)
or
Boston's Museum of Science Information Desk, Boston
Jerry Rodriguez, 617/723-2500 (Readers)
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