# Presentation: 665078

## McWane Science Center

- Science on a Sphere project
- February 2007
- Greg Christenson
- Exhibits Technical Director
- Lawrence Cooper
- Education Manager

## Installation Timeline

- Currently in final production phase
- Walls, painting, infrastructure completion Feb. 2nd 2007
- NOAA team arrives Feb. 5th for installation
- Opening preview party Feb. 15th 2007
- Opens to public February 17th 2007

## Content Delivery

- Current plans include a mix of presenter led programs for both public and school groups.
- Play lists with audio content for times between programs.

## SoS Programming Topics

- Current plans are for a mix of Solar System and Earth Science programs.
- School Programs designed using the Alabama Course of Study for Science (ACOSS) Standards.
- Journey to Earth
- Our Place in Space
- Active Atmosphere
- The Living Planet

## Programs

- Public Programs
- Hurricane Hunters
- Where do they form and travel.
- Earth and Beyond
- Solar system program.
- Journey to Mars
- Mars geology and distinct features.
- Impact Earth
- Human impact on our planet.

## Unique Aspects 

- Upgraded audio system using JBL speakers and separate equalization for microphone and computer inputs.

## Screen Goo high contrast paint

- Using “Digital Grey” paint for sphere to improve contrast in medium ambient light installation area.

## 208/220 V Computer Power

- 20A Circuit power capacity of 3600 watts
- Six Dell workstations connected to a single battery backup exceed the 1920 Volt-Amp UL rating of a single 120 volt 20 amp standard circuit requiring multiple circuits.
- Less current draw at 208v therefore components run cooler reducing long-term risks of failure.

- L6-20R twistlock receptacles reduce the chance accidental disconnection

## DVI projector connection

- Eiki LC-X60 projectors connected to computers with DVI using Gefen extenders
- Up to 200 feet (60 meters) over two CAT-5e cables at 1280x1024
- Full digital connection

## Projector Towers

- Projector mounting tower separate from outer structure
- Computers remote mounted with DVI
- AR glass windows to protect projector lens

## SoS Installation Area

## Overview of SoS Area

## Slide 13

## Slide 14

## Slide 15

## Slide 16

## Slide 17

## Local Partnerships

- Partnering with University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) on evaluation and assessment.
- EyeSight Foundation of Alabama and UAB Department of Ophthalmology for content creation.
- We are also hoping to expose a good number of underprivileged school systems to this new technology through access fund partnerships with Alabama Power and Honda. These will allow field trips to attend SoS programs.

## Program Evaluation

- We plan to use Einstruction’s Classroom Performance System for pre and post testing for school groups and summer camps.
- TouchPoll kiosks for general public program evaluation.
- We will have four specific programs that are age-group specific and each program will have associated pre and post testing.

## Helpful Improvements

- Synchronized PowerPoint type slide show with additional information on the currently displayed visualization.
- Closed captioning system
- Descriptive Video for people with low vision.

**Notes:**
Population densities, Volcanos