After a $50 million revamp, the Oceanarium exhibit at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium now includes a special addition: an interactive kiosk that harnesses the power of RFID to connect with and teach the aquarium’s youngest visitors (http://www.rfidnews.org/2009/07/22/chicago’s-shedd-aquarium-uses-rfid-for-new-exhibit).
The kiosk resembles those used at carnivals and fairs across the world, in which users maneuver a mechanical claw to pick up desired items. At the aquarium, kids use that claw to pick up such items as shells and stones, which are embedded with RFID tags. An RFID sensor in the claw reads those tags and triggers an animated video to appear on the kiosk screen. Kids can watch that video to learn more about the specific item picked.
The Shedd Aquarium follows the example of Singapore’s Underwater World. In 2007, that aquarium embedded its fish with RFID tags with the goal of helping visitors identify the different species more easily. When tagged fish swam by an RFID sensor, the system triggered information about the fish’s name, species, and more to be sent to a touch screen for visitors’ review.
In 2008, meanwhile, Munich’s Mulenhof Museum used RFID to create an interactive multimedia experience, or a “Mobile Visitor Information System” (MoVIS). Before system deployment, RFID tags were placed in individual exhibits and locations. Now, when a visitor holding a museum-issued PDA with an integrated RFID reader approaches an exhibit, the PDA launches multimedia content relevant to that exhibit. In addition, the RFID system provides the museum with data such as how long visitors spend at particular exhibits, which could help the museum with future planning (http://www.rfidnews.org/2008/04/28/rfid-brings-museum-to-life).
Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, Singapore’s Underwater World, and Munich’s Mulenhof Museum exemplify how RFID can be used by such institutions to promote learning and entertainment.
Posted by milestechinc 
Miles Technologies Inc. 