SAN JOSE, CA --(Marketwired - October 29, 2014) - The Tech Museum of Innovation on Wednesday will open a new permanent exhibition, Body Metrics, presented by Kaiser Permanente. The Tech will host a media preview on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 11 a.m., and the exhibition will be open to the public beginning Thursday, Oct. 30.
Body Metrics invites people to learn about their physical, social, and emotional health, and how they are affected by environment, behavior, movement, and interactions with others. Visitors will be outfitted with a Sensor Kit including three wearable devices -- a customized iPod, a Somaxis muscle and heart sensor, and a NeuroSky EEG headset. Using these tools, they'll be able to explore and manipulate their data streams, displayed on the iPod screen, while participating in activities within the Body Metrics exhibition and throughout the museum.
"What we are doing is much more than wearable tech like Fitbit, NikeFuel band, and Zamzee, which measure physical activity," said Lath Carlson, Vice President of Exhibits at The Tech. "We're exploring physical metrics, as well as social and emotional ones. This is way beyond anything that's commercially out there."
After interacting with exhibits while wearing the technology, visitors can place their iPod on a 12-foot touch table that displays their data in six categories: activity level, tension, mental focus, talkativeness, attitude, and the number of people nearby. By exploring and learning to manipulate these metrics by altering their behavior, visitors learn to make small but meaningful changes to their physical and mental health.
"Kaiser Permanente was the first health care organization to link computers and doctors to improve members' health. Now, more than 4.7 million Kaiser Permanente members use our digital tools to take charge of their health and partner with their care providers," said Chris Boyd, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara. "By sponsoring the Body Metrics exhibition at San Jose's famed Tech Museum of Innovation, Kaiser Permanente wants to spread the message of how powerful technologies can help people understand and manage their well-being."
Body Metrics is one in a series of new exhibits representing a five-year institutional transformation that is redefining The Tech as a Silicon Valley resource for innovation.
The Tech is creating deep experiences that are open-ended, social, and collaborative, such as Body Metrics and Social Robots, which challenges visitors to design and program a robot for human interaction in real-world settings. Multiple new "design challenge" galleries will cover the museum's 30,000-square-foot lower level; The Tech is scheduled to open an exhibit on cyber security in the spring of 2015.
WHO: Tim Ritchie , President of The Tech Museum of Innovation; Dave Cortese , Santa Clara County Supervisor, board member for The Tech, and candidate for San Jose mayor; Sam Liccardo , San Jose City Councilmember and candidate for mayor; Chris Boyd , Senior Vice President, Kaiser Permanente, and board member for The Tech.
WHAT: A press preview and tour of Body Metrics, presented by Kaiser Permanente, with technology sponsor NetApp. San Jose mayoral candidates Dave Cortese and Sam Liccardo will demonstrate the exhibit.
WHEN: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29.
WHERE: The Tech, 201 S. Market St., San Jose, CA. Lower Level.
TO LEARN MORE: Find details and a press kit at thetech.org/bodymetrics
About The Tech Museum of Innovation
The Tech is a hands-on technology and science museum for people of all ages and backgrounds. The museum -- in the Capital of Silicon Valley -- is a non-profit, experiential learning resource established to engage people in exploring applied technologies affecting their lives. Through programs such as The Tech Challenge presented by Cisco, our annual team-design competition for youth, and the internationally renowned program to honor technology benefiting humanity, The Tech Awards presented by Applied Materials, The Tech endeavors to inspire the innovator in everyone.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. It is recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of its members and the communities it serves. It currently serves approximately 9.5 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share .
Media Contact Amy Pizarro Director of Media and Community 1-408-795-6225 apizarro@thetech.org
