fun potential interactive designs

i thought we could use some help in finding ways to engage the audience with our issues, so i turned to the tech museum (in san jose) for some help. they have fun exhibits where people could learn about things like how machines operate or cars work or the concept of input/output.

one of these new exhibits is green by design, which i have not yet personally seen. it focuses on energy conservation and how we can help with sustainability.

http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/green_by_design/

darlene also suggested looking into the children's discovery museum as well.

hope these things help!

PERI-scope project description

PERI-scope
330 15th Avenue, San Diego, California 92101
tel: 619.338.0884
www.peri-scope.org
email: perisic@earthlink.net

The PERI-scope project seeks to localize global issues in order to effect change at the global scale. Mediating back and forth between the local and the global, the project acts at the “glocal” level. As the name suggests, the intention is to look beyond politics and man-made boundaries and to focus on the commonalities of the human race that unite us all. Conversely, it embraces the activist motto, “Think globally, and act locally.” The goals are of a purely humanitarian nature, not political or religious. While humanity should celebrate the differences and treasure the richness that our cultures and regions offer, differences are too often exploited for divisive purposes. Working toward a common goal will promote understanding, tolerance, and peace through global unity. Global change can only occur at the local levels one person at a time through personal experiences and interactions; it will connect to individuals by putting information and statistics into perspective with a memorable visual and tactile experience. The PERI-scope project will have both a physical and virtual presence, building networks throughout the world. It aims to use global distribution of exhibitions and information-age technology as tools of enlightenment to address issues such as global warming, AIDS, and starvation. Partnerships will be formed with local, national, and international humanitarian organizations. The online component will include blogs, support information, world view with images, information, statistics, and links to global organizations. Global unity starts with a dialogue, and connectivity is an opportunity for enfranchisement. Connectivity offers us unity and enlightenment, and, therefore, hope.

phase I: seed
PERI-scope one, San Diego’s portal to the world, is the first phase of the PERI-scope project. It is an awareness center that presents contemporary global issues and contextualizes them locally. Providing a community forum for dialogue in downtown San Diego, this space is an educational center on the pulse of changing global issues. It will host exhibitions, lectures, and workshops that will promote activism. It will also exhibit responsible “green” practices in sustainable design.

phase II: mobilization
PERI-scope will develop a fleet of shipping containers as a series of prototypes at PERI-scope one. These will house exhibitions which will travel to multiple locations around the world; exhibitions will be translated into the appropriate languages. Shipping containers will be transformed from vessels for global distribution of goods to vessels for informing and educating. These traveling exhibitions will serve as catalysts for change and will promote understanding of global issues and other cultures through exchange of information.

phase III: intervention
Satellite locations of PERI-scope container installations, kiosks, and buildings will be integrated into the urban fabric of cities around the world as urban acupuncture. Their permanent physical presence will serve as a constant reminder of the importance of global awareness.

images of study models