Technium

Technology as a driving force

Technology has become so omnipresent that we hardly register its presence. We simply throw on a coat and hop on a bike to the station, board on a train, play the newest game on our phone during the journey, and when we get to work, we open our laptops and start working. Hundreds of different types of technology went into making that journey possible, and that’s what Technium is all about.

Housed on the second floor of NEMO and aimed at 8-12 year-olds, Technium dives into mobility, production, the technology within our devices...all of the processes that make our daily lives easier.

Mixing sustainable energy sources

Have you ever considered how electricity is generated, and which types of energy power your bedroom light? In an interactive, multiplayer game featuring a huge wall projection, players make the connections by placing physical wood plates showing different objects such as coal and electrical power stations. Players are invited to ponder how the day-and-night cycle affects how energy is generated, and how can you reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy flow?

On your bike

Considering all that energy, what goes into making a human-powered transportation device, aka a bike? A lot goes into bike design and what works in the city may not be ideal for those living in more rural or mountainous areas. And what about racing bikes or transportation bikes?

Using a combination of physical and digital puzzle pieces, visitors cobble together their own bike, discovering and recreating the bicycle production process as they go. Then they can test drive their bike using their arm strength while a storyteller narrates their ride, as if being in a virtual audio book.

Programming 101

For younger generations growing up with tech from a young age, programming is becoming more and more intuitive. So programming a digital robot using wooden blocks should be second nature. Playing in the recognisable setting of an ice-cream shop, they are tasked with programming their robot to mop the floor, eat spiders or get hypnotized. A fun, interactive element encourages players to get in each other's way.

Creatively circular

Budding fashion designers are asked to think about the materials, energy and water that goes into making a T-shirt. Using wooden hangers to activate exhibits, visitors get involved in the production process. The big question, how can we make a more sustainable or even circular garment?

From creating a pattern, to choosing fabrics and production methods, visitors are led through the entire process step-by-step. Choosing certain dyes, materials, and production countries will affect the outcome. Kids can even try-on a digital shirt.

Inclusion at the forefront

As with all its interactive games and designs, YIPP made sure to include visitors of different ages and abilities. Particular care was taken to design two unique experiences that are accessible for visitors with a visual impairment. Both the bike exhibit and energy mixer include tactile and auditory elements. To ensure these exhibits truly resonate with the intended visitors, YIPP arranged user testing with the specific audience that these exhibits are made for.

Adding this more technical and technological focus to the NEMO Science Museum will leave its young visitors enriched and able to ask questions about the world we live in.


Want to know more about this project or have a similar project in mind that we can help you with? Get in touch with Wouter van der Zouwe (wouter.vanderzouwe@yipp.nl).