Innovations in a technology museum

The rapid progress of technology presents challenges to museums, science centers, and the entertainment industry. Keeping up with technical advances, coupled with the increasing sophistication and expectation of visitors, often strains limited resources. The rise of the Internet is rapidly driving innovation and competition. What will the museum of the future look like! What role will technology play! What are the technical, commercial, and ethical challenges in implementing some or all of this vision! What is the feasibility? While all the answers are not yet known, many industries throughout the world are developing elements of this vision. One place in particular, The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California, actively pursues research in making much of this vision possible. A team of over 30 engineers, technicians, and students in the Engineering Department is working to overcome the challenges and explore the limits. This vision of future museums describes a high-tech facility that is striving to push the boundaries of traditional museums. Innovations include the application of control systems, network architecture, and microcomputer technology.