NetPl@net Exhibit Opens at The Tech

The Tech Museum of Innovation today introduced NetPl@net, its newest permanent gallery. Through unique, hands-on exhibits and floor programs, NetPl@net will inspire guests to dream up the next Internet innovation.

"It's important for us to reflect on how much of a role the Internet plays in our everyday lives, but it's even more important to understand that we can shape its future by using the Internet in unique new ways. NetPl@net is designed to encourage everyone to take part in that process," said Meredith Taylor, President of The Tech Museum. "Designed, developed and built in-house, NetPl@net is one major component of our campaign to refresh 85% of The Tech's permanent exhibit space by 2007."

NetPl@net is the second exhibition to feature The Tech's popular TechTags, which offer guests a truly unique museum experience. Guests can build personal webpages, hosted by The Tech, by swiping their free, RFID chip-embedded bracelet at select stations in the exhibit. The websites extend guests' visits online at home by featuring their own experiences from The Tech, and also offering additional online-only content. Guests can add to their website by bringing their TechTags back over time for use with new exhibits.

Key NetPl@net Components

What can you do with it|@ Select exhibits include:

Virtual Arm Wrestle – Use haptic technology and videoconferencing to arm-wrestle museum-goers across the country

Web Cam Globe – Tour the world by touching different spots on the globe

Virtual World – Create an avatar to chat and explore an interconnected, 3D land

Crazy Connections – Create a musical composition using real-time data inputs, both inside and outside the museum, that are connected through Internet

Whack-A-Spam – Use an oversized mallet to battle spam as it pops out of holes

Trend Tracker – Select a recent period in time to see the hottest search trends, or play a game by receiving search terms and guessing the month and year of those search trends

Web Page Studio – Express yourself by creating your own personalized web page complete with activities captured on your TechTag

What is the Internet|@ Increase your understanding of the Internet as a series of massive networks and servers, and see first-hand how data travels from one place to another over the Internet.

Where is it heading|@ Understand the increasing pervasiveness of the Internet by touring an Interconnected City. Guests can brainstorm what Internet applications they'd like in their community and everyday life.

Additional Information
NetPl@net is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Hewlett-Packard Company, The NASDAQ Educational Foundation, Yahoo!, Nortel Networks, Network Appliance, and Charmaine and Daniel Warmenhoven.

Tickets to The Tech Museum of Innovation's galleries or IMAX are $9.50, $8 and $7 each for general admission, seniors and children, respectively. Combo tickets (galleries and one IMAX film) are available for $16, $15, $13 for general admission, seniors and children, respectively. The Tech is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, and is also open on holiday Mondays.

About The Tech Museum of Innovation
Located in the heart of downtown San Jose, Silicon Valley, Calif., The Tech Museum of Innovation, a non-profit organization, engages people of all ages and backgrounds in exploring and experiencing the technologies affecting their lives and aims to inspire the young to become innovators in the technologies of the future. For more information, visit www.thetech.org or call (408) 294-TECH.

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