The Children’s Museum has had our new Topography Table open for periodic testing over the last couple of weeks and we will officially be opening the exhibit on Monday, July 30th, kicking off a Members-Only Monday at the museum!
The Topography Table is an augmented reality sand table that projects colors on the sand based on elevation of the sand! Think of it as an interactive topographical map where when you move the sand, the topography projection changes based on the new landforms you created! Dig a hole in the sand and create a lake. Add a high point of sand in the middle of the lake and create an island! At this exhibit, you shape the landscape!
Back in the spring of 2017, our Executive Director, Adam Woodworth was at a family dinner talking with his brother-in-law, Bill Kane, about this exhibit. Bill is a teacher at Lockport Township High School and was telling Adam how their school had just built the augmented reality sand table for their STEM lab. Adam floated the idea about the possibility of having CAD students design the exhibit and the rest is history. Not only did CAD students design the exhibit, but students in the buildings and trades classes built the exhibit. Ted Kozlowski who runs our Build-It Workshop most days and oversees exhibit repairs/maintenance took charge of the electronics and Bill Kane worked with Ted on the programming.
“This exhibit is a very unique, interactive experience that gives children the opportunity to learn about landforms,” said Woodworth. “We were so thrilled to partner with Lockport Township High School students on this exhibit. It’s something these students can put on their resume as something they had a hand in creating. And to think, it all came together as a result of a dinner conversation with my brother-in-law.”
Exhibits like this can only happen through the generosity of our donors. If you would like information on how you can support the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn through a donation towards an exhibit, a vehicle donation, a stock donation or maybe you just want information on how to include us as a beneficiary in your will or insurance policy, reach out to us at (708) 423-6709 ext 201. Donations can be made through our website, too, at www.cmoaklawn.org.
The Topography Table is an augmented reality sand table that projects colors on the sand based on elevation of the sand! Think of it as an interactive topographical map where when you move the sand, the topography projection changes based on the new landforms you created! Dig a hole in the sand and create a lake. Add a high point of sand in the middle of the lake and create an island! At this exhibit, you shape the landscape!
Back in the spring of 2017, our Executive Director, Adam Woodworth was at a family dinner talking with his brother-in-law, Bill Kane, about this exhibit. Bill is a teacher at Lockport Township High School and was telling Adam how their school had just built the augmented reality sand table for their STEM lab. Adam floated the idea about the possibility of having CAD students design the exhibit and the rest is history. Not only did CAD students design the exhibit, but students in the buildings and trades classes built the exhibit. Ted Kozlowski who runs our Build-It Workshop most days and oversees exhibit repairs/maintenance took charge of the electronics and Bill Kane worked with Ted on the programming.
“This exhibit is a very unique, interactive experience that gives children the opportunity to learn about landforms,” said Woodworth. “We were so thrilled to partner with Lockport Township High School students on this exhibit. It’s something these students can put on their resume as something they had a hand in creating. And to think, it all came together as a result of a dinner conversation with my brother-in-law.”
Exhibits like this can only happen through the generosity of our donors. If you would like information on how you can support the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn through a donation towards an exhibit, a vehicle donation, a stock donation or maybe you just want information on how to include us as a beneficiary in your will or insurance policy, reach out to us at (708) 423-6709 ext 201. Donations can be made through our website, too, at www.cmoaklawn.org.
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