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The Tech Interactive

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Coordinates: 37°19′53″N 121°53′27″W / 37.3314374°N 121.8907276°W / 37.3314374; -121.8907276
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The Tech Interactive
The Tech Interactive, viewed from nearby Plaza de César Chávez in Downtown San Jose
The Tech Interactive is located in San Jose, California
The Tech Interactive
Location within San Jose, California
The Tech Interactive is located in California
The Tech Interactive
The Tech Interactive (California)
The Tech Interactive is located in the United States
The Tech Interactive
The Tech Interactive (the United States)
Former name
The Tech Museum of Innovation
EstablishedOctober 31, 1998; 26 years ago (1998-10-31)
Location201 South Market Street
San Jose, California, US
Coordinates37°19′53″N 121°53′27″W / 37.3314374°N 121.8907276°W / 37.3314374; -121.8907276
TypeScience
Visitors400,000 annually
PresidentKatrina Stevens
ArchitectRicardo Legorreta
Public transit accessSanta Clara Valley Transportation Authority Blue Line (VTA) Green Line (VTA) Convention Center
Websitewww.thetech.org
Association of Science-Technology Centers
The atrium inside The Tech Interactive, showing all three levels

The Tech Interactive (formerly The Tech Museum of Innovation, commonly known as The Tech)[1][2] is a science and technology center that offers hands-on activities, labs, design challenges and other STEAM education resources. It is located in downtown San Jose, California, adjacent to the Plaza de César Chávez.

Description

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IMAX Dome Theater showing "Mesmerica" in fall 2019

The building has a distinctive mango and azure color, and has three floors. On the lower level there is a complex multi-story sculpture titled Origin, inside a 45-foot-tall (14 m) cylindrical tower. The artwork portrays relationships among art, technology, and natural resources of the earth.[3] Near the entrance to the building, there is Science on a Roll, a popular rolling ball sculpture by George Rhoads.[4] The front wall is inscribed with quotations from iconic Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Bill Hewlett, David Packard, Bob Noyce, and Gordon Moore.[5] The building was designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta.[6]

The IMAX Dome Theater,[7] opened in 1998 and upgraded since then,[4] shows mainstream movies as well as educational films. It is Northern California's only domed IMAX theater and has the first dome laser projector in the world, seating up to 280 people.[8]

The Tech is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.[9]

History

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Planning began in 1978 by members of the Junior League of Palo Alto, with later assistance by the San Jose Junior League.[4] The City of San Jose promised funding for a Technology Center of Silicon Valley in the 1980s, but progress was slow.[4]

The first 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) temporary exhibit opened in 1990; The Garage, named in homage to the HP Garage,[1][2] was housed in San Jose's former convention center. On October 31, 1998, a brand-new 132,000-square-foot (12,300 m2) facility was inaugurated, named The Tech Museum of Innovation.[4][10] In May 2019, the organization was renamed as The Tech Interactive and announced a partnership with Discovery Education.[1][2]

In 2018, an expansion of Tech Interactive by 63,000 square feet (5,900 m2) was proposed, as part of a major high-rise office development in Park Habitat.[11][12][needs update]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Tech Interactive temporarily closed for in-person visits in March, 2020, and published online STEM resources through "The Tech Interactive at Home", in English, and "The Tech Interactive en Casa", in Spanish.[13][14]

Programs

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The Tech for Global Good

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Main article: The Tech Awards

The Tech for Global Good is a program aimed at inspiring young people to become problem-solvers who make the world a better place. It evolved from The Tech Awards, a yearly ceremony known as the Oscars of Silicon Valley[15] in which individuals and organizations were recognized for their technological contributions to improving the human condition. In 2016, The Tech announced[16] it was expanding The Tech Awards program[17] from a once-a-year event to a year-round program with educational materials and exhibits.[18] Since then, Tech for Global Good has focused every year on a different theme, such as health care or data. It honors organizations under that theme as its laureates for the year,[19] focusing on their problem-solving abilities in lesson plans, videos and other materials[20] for students.

The Tech Challenge

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The Tech Challenge is a design challenge competition for students Grades 4–12.[21] Since its inception in 1988, more than 25,000 students have participated in the program, in which teams of students use the engineering design process to solve a real-world problem. In past years, participants have been asked to design and build a hovercraft; a structure to withstand an earthquake; and a device to deliver water, among other challenges. One of the program's key goals is to engage students underrepresented in STEM fields.[22]

The Tech Academies

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The Tech Academies program, launched in 2014, provides in-depth professional development for educators to help them integrate high-quality STEM curriculum in their classrooms in Silicon Valley. The two-year Tech Academies Fellowship program, through The Tech and San José State University’s College of Science, trains educators in STEM instruction, with a focus on engineering and computer science. In 2020, the Tech Academies program received the EdCom award for Innovation in Museum Education from the American Alliance of Museums,[23] and in 2019 it won the Excellence in Museum Education award from the California Association of Museums[24] and the office of the state superintendent of education.

School programs

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The Tech offers in-person and virtual field trips to school groups from September to June each year.

The Tech offers field trip scholarships to underserved schools.

Exhibits

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Lower level

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  • Social Robots: Using sensors, controllers, and actuators, this exhibit allows visitors to design and build robots.[25]
  • Body Motion: Sensors in this exhibit allow visitors to see how their movement and interactions affect their physical, social, and emotional health.
  • Space Exploration: This exhibit showcases innovations in space, including a maneuverable Jet Pack chair.
  • Solve for Earth: This exhibit opened in 2021 and teaches guests about living sustainably and how their actions impact the environment, highlighting the work of scientists and emerging technologies to battle the climate crisis.[13]
  • Cyber Detectives: Presented by Palo Alto Networks, this interactive exhibit opened on June 3, 2015 and teaches visitors cyber security through “training modules” and a cybersecurity mission.[26]
  • The Tech Studio: An open-to-the-public workshop space where visitors participate in maker-style activities.[27]

Upper level

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Past exhibits

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Main entrance during the Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon exhibit, 2010

1998 – Grand Opening, five galleries: Innovation: Silicon Valley and Beyond, Life Tech: The Human Machine, Exploration: New Frontiers, Communications: Global Connections, and Center of the Edge (for shorter-term exhibits)[36]

2002 – Imagination Playground exhibits: You Cannot Catch Me, Fuzzy Spot, PlayPath Dots, Bend The Rule, Glow Stones (Nami Orbs), Spy Houses, Maracas, Light Beads, Elusive Dots, Bug Puppet

2004 – Genetics: Technology with a Twist exhibits: A letter to policymaker, GeneKid Phone, Counselor Phone, Incubator, Gene Array Simulator, Wet Lab Counters[37]

2004 – Silicon Workshop exhibits: Hardwired Chip, Potato Head exhibit

2005 – NetPlanet (a.k.a. Internet 2004) exhibits: Crazy Connection, Internet Globe exhibit, Whack A Spam, Arm Wrestling, TrendPlay

2005 – Calpine (repurposed later into Green by Design) exhibit: Calpine bike-generator

2006 – Green by Design exhibits: SuperCap Cars exhibit, Energy Tower, Regenerative Braking, Sage Glass, Smart Window, Solar Collector, Solar Hybrid Lighting

2007 – Idea House[38]

2008 – The Tech Virtual Test Zone (Art Film and Music) exhibits: WikiSonic, Avatar Mirror, Connecting Point, Mashup Easel, MIDI VJ, Musical Chair, Tilty Table

2009 – Tech Awards Gallery (a.k.a. UcanTu) exhibits: Life-Line Radio, Bare Foot College, Tree of Hope, Adaptive Lens, Cell Bazaar, H2O Canopy, MorSand Filter[39]

2010 – Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery Phase I exhibits: Transistors, Speed of Processor, Intel Microchip, and sponsored exhibits from Nvidia, Google, and Adobe[40]

2011 – The Tech Test Zone exhibits: Digital Foam, PIXEL, Sound Circles, GigaPixel Viewer, Mmmtsss[41]

2012 – Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery Phase II exhibits: ReFace, Social Circles, Reactable

2014 – REBOOT: Music exhibit: Tim Thompson's Space Palette[42][43]

2014 – Body Metrics[44][45]

In the past, The Tech rented out Parkside Hall from the City of San José to host traveling exhibits. In 2007, this hall was the home to the exhibit known as Body Worlds 2, which brought in more than 280,000 guests. In winter of 2008, there was a special Leonardo da Vinci exhibit (called Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future) that displayed some of his inventions, discoveries, and artwork; it ended January 25, 2009, after a three-week extension.[46][47] The Tech also hosted Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination from October 19, 2013, to March 23, 2014.[48][49][50]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Pizarro, Sal (May 23, 2019). "The Tech unveils a new name and an expanded mission". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Pizarro, Sal (May 24, 2019). "New Name, The Tech Interactive, and a new mission". The Mercury News. pp. B1, B6.
  3. ^ "Origin" (PDF). City of San Jose. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e Pizarro, Sal (March 2, 2019). "The Tech still inspires innovation after 20 years in San Jose". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  5. ^ McEnery, Tom (March 5, 2019). "Opinion: Tech Museum embodies the best of Silicon Valley". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  6. ^ Herhold, Scott (January 2, 2012). "Herhold: Designer of two San Jose museums dies in Mexico". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  7. ^ Kaplan, Tracey (April 25, 2012). "Michael L. Hackworth - Silicon Valley entrepreneur and philanthropist - dies at 71". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  8. ^ "IMAX Dome Theater, The Tech Museum". IMAX. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  9. ^ "Rating for The Tech Interactive". Charity Navigator. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  10. ^ "About Us: The Tech Today". The Tech Museum of Innovation. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
  11. ^ Avalos, George (November 1, 2018). "Downtown San Jose's Museum Place complex will feature big office tower, Tech Museum expansion". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  12. ^ Angst, Maggie (December 3, 2019). "San Jose OK's 20-story downtown Museum Place office tower, Tech expansion". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Dorsey, Dustin (December 11, 2020). "San Jose's Tech Interactive creates new ways to spread mission during COVID-19 pandemic". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  14. ^ "The Tech Interactive offers free, easy activities to do at home". www.prnewswire.com. March 20, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  15. ^ May, Patrick (November 13, 2014). "Silicon Valley honors 2014 Tech Award winners". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  16. ^ Morgan, James C. (November 18, 2016). "Morgan: Tech Awards grow into 'The Tech for Global Good'". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  17. ^ "Tech Museum of Innovation Announces Expansion of The Tech Awards". The Tech Interactive. November 17, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  18. ^ "The Tech for Global Good". The Tech Interactive. October 30, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  19. ^ Singh, Gary (November 6, 2019). "Silicon Alleys: Global Good Awards Honors Innovators | Metroactive". www.metroactive.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "The Tech for Global Good". techfortomorrow.com. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  21. ^ "The Tech Challenge - About Us". The Tech Museum of Innovation. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  22. ^ "Cupertino Students Blow Out the Tech Challenge". Cupertino Patch. April 23, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  23. ^ "EdCom Award for Innovation in Museum Education". American Alliance of Museums. November 21, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  24. ^ "Excellence in Museum Education Awardees 2019 - Excellence in Museum Education Award (CA Dept of Education)". www.cde.ca.gov. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  25. ^ Deinzer, Erin Caslavka (March 7, 2014). "Places where you can interact with robots". SF Gate. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  26. ^ "Palo Alto Networks Sponsors Cyber Detectives Exhibit". Palo Alto Networks Blog. June 5, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  27. ^ Chan, Norman. "Exhibit Design at The Tech Museum of Innovation". Tested.com. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  28. ^ "Tech Museum embraces augmented reality with Body Worlds Decoded exhibit". VentureBeat. October 15, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  29. ^ "Body Worlds Decoded". The Tech. Tech Museum of Innovation. October 9, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  30. ^ "The Tech Museum of Innovation reinvents Body Worlds exhibit with unprecedented augmented reality experience". The Tech. October 9, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  31. ^ Innovation, The Tech Museum of (October 24, 2017). "Five organizations dedicated to global good to be honored at The Tech Museum of Innovation". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  32. ^ Bansal, Devika G. (May 25, 2017). "Mind-bending virtual reality exhibit opens at Tech Museum". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  33. ^ Innovation, The Tech Museum of (May 16, 2017). "The Tech Museum of Innovation, explores the future of creativity with cutting-edge experiences in virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  34. ^ "Innovations in Health Care Opens at The Tech Museum of Innovation". www.yahoo.com. February 15, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  35. ^ Medal, Dave. "Synthetic Biology Is ... Complex. But This Exhibit Makes It a Blast". Wired. Wired.com. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  36. ^ "'Walk Through Time' at Tech Museum opening this weekend (October 28, 1998)". www.almanacnews.com. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  37. ^ Adams, Amy (April 28, 2004). "Tough topic gets kid-friendly touch in San Jose's Tech Museum exhibit". news.stanford.edu. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  38. ^ Collins, Erin (February 11, 2011). "Idea House: Interactive Exhibition". Los Gatos, CA Patch. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  39. ^ Pizarro, Sal (September 1, 2009). "Pizarro: New gallery brings the Tech Awards up close". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  40. ^ "EXHIBITION: The Tech Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery (Tech Museum, San Jose, Ca, from Sept 15 2010)". MATTEO BITTANTI. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  41. ^ Spadaccini, Jim (November 21, 2011). "The Tech Test Zone Opening and Gigapixel Kinect Exhibit | Ideum". Ideum - Exhibit Design + Multitouch Software and Hardware. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  42. ^ "Tim Thompson's Space Palette at The Tech Museum of Innovation REBOOT:Music Exhibit in San Jose". Mark Mosher. April 2, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  43. ^ Weinstein, Dave (July 1, 2014). "Interactive Music Turns Museum into a Funhouse". EichlerNetwork. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  44. ^ Hill, Angela (October 29, 2014). "New 'Body Metrics' exhibit opens at The Tech — it's all about you". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  45. ^ "The Tech Museum of Innovation Opens New Permanent Exhibition, Body Metrics". finance.yahoo.com. October 29, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  46. ^ "Largest Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit at The Tech Museum in San Jose". www.valleyzen.com. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  47. ^ "The Tech Museum of Innovation presents "Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future"". Archived from the original on January 21, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
  48. ^ D'Souza, Karen (October 16, 2013). "'Star Wars' exhibit launches warp speed into San Jose Tech Museum". San Jose Mercury News.
  49. ^ Alton, Elizabeth. "'Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination' Makes Its Final Stop". Entertainment Designer. Archived from the original on February 8, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  50. ^ "Star Wars®: Where Science Meets Imagination". Museum of Science. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
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