Exhibits 911

Since many exhibits use "off-the-shelf" components, many times a simple fix could mean just replacing a part, like a bulb, rather than having to buy a brand new device.

A handy source to find replacement parts (even for older or discontinued models) is partstore.com

I always like to keep a spare or two handy to reduce downtime for exhibits.

Turn Your Old Tootbrush Into A Robot!

The fine folks at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories have posted this nifty set of instructions and video to make a "Bristlebot."

Now I just need to find some old pagers to scavenge their motors!

Google Grants

Here's something that may help museums increase their online presence --- Google has a grants program that offers in-kind advertising through its AdWords product to selected grantees.

Here's a quote from Google: "Designed for 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, Google Grants is a unique in-kind advertising program. It harnesses the power of our flagship advertising product, Google AdWords, to non-profits seeking to inform and engage their constituents online. Google Grants has awarded AdWords advertising to hundreds of non-profit groups whose missions range from animal welfare to literacy, from supporting homeless children to promoting HIV education."

You can find out more at this Google Grants website.

Exhibit Design Inspiration: Rubber Bands?

Stanford University runs an "Innovation Tournament" each year for their students, and students around the world. For the 2008 contest, they asked participants to "add value" to that most ubiquitous of objects, the rubber band.

Students from all over the world (including Finland, Turkey, and Ecuador, among other countries) posted their ideas and entries to YouTube, and Stanford has collected the entries into a group there.

Entries range from the goofy (shooting people who don't recycle their compostable cups with rubber bands) to utilitarian (wrap rubber bands around the nozzle of liquid soap dispensers to prevent waste) to the downright heady (a model of the universe constructed of rubber bands used to illustrate Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity!)

The videos are worth a look. A bag full of rubber bands might be just the thing to kick off a brainstorming session at your next meeting!

Green Exhibit Tech: The EnerJar

I've been doing some work with several clients recently to produce exhibitions with a "green" theme. In the course of some of my research one of the interesting green gizmos I've come across is the EnerJar.

Basically the EnerJar is a device that accurately measures the power draw of electrical appliances.

(There are instructions on the EnerJar website on how to build your own DIY power meter.)

EnerJars would make a great project for museums to have their visitors build to take home, as well. It's a little scary to see how much energy all the "stuff" in a typical home uses!

The EnerJar was the Grand Prize Winner in the 2008 Greener Gadgets Design Competition. Check out their website for a great collection of inspiring green technology ideas.

What are some of your favorite green resources? Let us know in the comments section!

Be Kind Rewind: "Swede" your next exhibit!

I just saw the movie "Be Kind Rewind" a sweet (or "swede") and interesting experience.

Admittedly, the film is light and goofy --- the upshot is that the two main characters (played by Jack Black and Mos Def) need to remake the movies at a cheapo video store after they all get erased accidentally after Black becomes "magnetized!"

But the thing that makes me post here about Be Kind Rewind, is the "can do" ethos of the two main characters. They come up with all sorts of fun, crazy, low-tech, and low-cost ways to create special effects in the movies they "remake" (or "swede".)

No spoilers here, but the movie's worth a look for both exhibit inspiration and ideas!