Re: The networked planet (fwd)

["Valerie L. Haas" <vhaas@WAM.UMD.EDU>]

I asked for more info. regarding this new exhibit.  Thought others might
be interested too!  It looks great.  Maybe over the holidays...

Valerie Haas
vhaas@wam.umd.edu


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 18 Nov 94 09:11:18 EDT
From: Gail Jennes <JENNES@tcm.org>
To: "Valerie L. Haas" <vhaas@wam.umd.edu>
Subject: RE: The networked planet


Valerie: Thanks for your interest! The exhibit is permanent. You would want to
allow yourself one to two hours to experience it...and then there's the
rest of
the Museum's 125 interactive exhibits. Adults: Adults $7; students and seniors
$5! Here's a press release on the new exhibit:

CONTACT
Gail Jennes (East Coast)
617-426-2800 x341
Internet: jennes@tcm.org

Carol Welsh (West Coast)                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
415-323-1909
Internet: welsh@tcm.org


THE COMPUTER MUSEUM'S NEW PERMANENT EXHIBIT
MAKES THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY "VISIBLE"


Boston, MA (November 14, 1994) - On November 12, The Computer Museum opened THE
NETWORKED PLANET, the first exhibit to make the "information highway" and
global networks accessible to the general public. In one hour, visitors to the
exhibit can see, feel and use the "information highway" and understand when and
how it touches them.

THE NETWORKED PLANET: Traveling the Information Highway(TM) is located at The
Computer Museum, 300 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210. FOR HOURS and DIRECTIONS,
call 617-423-6758. As of January 1, 1995, part of the exhibit will be
accessible on Web using mosaic at: <http://www.net.org>.

The only exhibit of its kind in the world, THE NETWORKED PLANET is a $2 million
microcosm of global networks. The exhibit reveals the inner workings of the
large-scale "invisible" networks that we rely on, such as global banking
systems, telephone networks, and aircraft tracking systems. It also provides
access to new networking opportunities at home, work and school through
first-hand experiences with the Internet and on-line services.

A July 1994 Harris poll showed that while 48 percent of adult Americans have
heard of the "information highway," most of them don't know much about its key
components. The Computer Museum decided to build the exhibit to address this
confusion.

The exhibit is designed as a ride along the "information highway" with
electronic tour guides at every stop. Issued a Key Card, visitors log in and
pick a "Network Guide." In each new area, their guide explains both the
technology and impact of the network being highlighted, and prompts them to
weigh the costs and benefits of the technology. The issues of privacy,
information overload, and life and love in the new electronic age are raised.

"This exhibit is significant because networks affect every man, woman, child
and community," said Boston University Professor of Management Lee Sproull, a
member of the exhibit's NEH-funded humanities advisory board.

HIGHLIGHTS

Large-scale "Invisible" Networks

* Travel down a 3D animated telephone line and find out how all kinds of
network connections (e-mail, cellular calls or fax) are made over the phone
system.
* Watch a live satellite, radar and lightning sensor feed of weather across the
USA.
* Track the location of all commercial planes in the air.
* Follow the flow of over $3 trillion around the globe each day through the
S.W.I.F.T. banking network.

Personal Tools

* Discover the Internet, using the "Internet Sampler" to explore various
communities and services available on the world's largest computer network. As
of December 1, the "Sampler" will be accessible on the World Wide Web at
<http://www.net.org>.
* Sample a variety of commercial on-line services including America Online,
eWorld and CompuServe.
* Find out how life on the "information highway" can impact your health and
what you can do about it.

TECHNOLOGY

This exhibit involves the creative and technical expertise and support of over
200 people from over 50 corporations and institutions around the world. The
exhibit runs on its own computer network, enabling the Network Guides to track
visitors. Sprint fiber optic T1 lines permit live network feeds from around the
globe.

The NETWORKED PLANET is made possible with support from: Principal Sponsor:
Sprint. Major Underwriters: National Science Foundation, National Endowment for
the Humanities. Major Sponsors: Apple Computer, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company,
Novell, Inc., NYNEX Corporation, Stratus Computer, Inc., S.W.I.F.T. Supporting
Sponsors: Banyan Systems Inc., Chipcom Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Fannie
Cox Foundation, Harvard Community Health Plan Foundation, Morgridge Family
Foundation, Pisces Productions, Paul and Kathleen Severino, Sun Microsystems,
Inc., Thomson Financial Services, and Wellfleet Communications, Inc.

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