HIGH-TECH ADVANCES DISPLAYED IN INAUGURATION FESTIVAL
A blustery, bone-chilling cold snap did not discourage thousands of inauguration celebrants Saturday from visiting the national Mall to see a makeshift “Bridge to the 21st Century” and sample the latest technological innovations.
The Technology Playground proved a leading draw among a village of tents and kiosks that make up “An American Journey,” the inaugural festival on the Mall. The interactive multimedia center features some of the most advanced computer systems and telecommunications products in use today, as well as some dizzying technologies that are not quite ready for prime-time.
Produced by the Los Angeles-based Digital Evolution, Inc., the Playground highlights the importance of technological innovation in four distinct areas: healthcare; education; entertainment; and community.
The New Journey’s Project, a medical research venture sponsored by Digital Evolution, UCLA’s Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Pain Program, and HomePC of Michigan, serves as the centerpiece of the Healthcare Forum. Dr. Lonnie K. Zeltzer, director of the pediatric pain program, demonstrated how researchers are applying modern computer hardware and software to lessen the risk involved to patients during pediatric surgery.
Essentially, the researchers use computer simulations to physically and emotionally draw children into an interactive environment, away from the reality and fear often associated with medical procedures.
“If children get particularly worked up in response to a given interactive situation,” Zeltzer said, “a condition called ‘stress-induced analgesia’ can occur, meaning a patient can tolerate low levels of pain without anesthesia. This allows for faster, less-risky procedures, and can greatly aid in recuperation.”
The Education Arena highlights advanced technology in U.S. classrooms with a particular eye towards ways the PC is shaping how students will learn in the years 1 ahead. From giving on-line adaptive exams to offering virtual front-row seats at some of history’s most important events, technology companies are in heated competition to stake a claim for even a fraction of the developing education market.
National Geographic, Yahoo, and IBM have targeted the education market with a passion, betting that interactive documentaries, advanced research tools, and widearea conferencing systems will be among the most popular products for schools and universities throughout the world.
Even PoliticsNow has joined the mix, partnering with textbook publisher Houghton Mifflin to produce PoliticsNow Classroom, an interactive site designed to supplement college-level introductory courses in political science.
Providing a necessary break from the more cerebral displays, the Entertainment Plaza offers plenty of high-speed excitement to keep even the most computer-savvy teens entranced for hours.
From force-feedback joysticks and incredible audio systems, to the extraordinary visual environments features inside the Silicon Graphics Magic Bus, the Entertainment plaza is the place to have a great time on the national Mall this weekend.
Even NBC late-night celebrity Conan O’Brien couldn’t resist a bit of the high-tech gaming experience, pulling himself away from his handlers and fans for a quick game or two. (Warning: We got hooked on the Maxis’ game SimTunes, which allows you to create music through a simple visual interface. Our ego was only slightly dinged when we learned it is designed for children.)
Producers of the Technology Playground went to great lengths to build a true “virtual community,” encouraging visitors to the tent as well as the Web site to participate. Taking advantage of the playground’s Virtual Bridge to the White House, visitors and netizens alike sent e-mail messages to the president, vice president, and first lade that were also aired on a jumbo-sized monitor in the middle of the pavilion.
A more low-tech bridge, fashioned from cardboard and paper, brought President Clinton’s campaign metaphor to life not far from the technology tent.
Those fortunate enough to be in warmer areas of the nation this inauguration weekend should not feel left out. Anyone can access the American Journey “Web- 2 U-Mentary,” and download photos and video clips from many of the weekend’s events. The site also allows online visitors to hear some of the musical performances and chat with the brave ones who bundled, layered, and covered up for a first-hand look at cutting-edge technology.