Museum-L: Has anyone heard of this software before? What's the scoop? Larisa Overmier John F. Kennedy University --------------------- 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. -0- 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)