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Learning science, virtually
EDUCATING HIMSELF? The Education Minister, E.T. Mohammed Basheer, at the virtual laboratory.
THANKS TO a tie-up with the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT), the Science & Technology Museum at the PMG Junction here has got itself a new `edutainment' corner, which boasts of a `Cyberlady' and a virtual laboratory. The main attraction is that the visitor can interact with a computer screen projected on a large screen.
Only two modules are now available in the virtual lab - the `flame test' and the `four-stroke engine'. The `flame test' allows the user to virtually dip the test rod in the compounds kept in dishes and move it towards the flame of a Bunsen burner. The colour of the flame changes according to the compound. The burner can be turned on or off with accompanying sound effects.
The four-stroke engine shows the cross-section of an engine complete with all functions such as fuel intake, ignition, piston compression, exhaust, and so on. The user can change the acceleration and listen to the engine rev up.
Educational tools
The S&T Museum director, Sajith Vijayaraghavan, said: "The modules are designed to serve as educational tools for students up to the higher secondary level, including the vocational courses. We plan to provide at least 100 such modules in the near future."
The `Cyberlady' is an artificial intelligence tool with audio-visual support. The software is designed to grip the user's attention by making an intelligent analysis of questions posed on a wide variety of topics. As the questions are keyed in, pop come the answers in Malayalam in a pleasing synthesised voice.
The responses are strikingly natural, but if the conversation is prolonged, they become less and less intelligent. The software team of C-DIT, however, has designed the `Cyberlady' to `learn on her feet', as it were, since each question keyed in by the visitor is stored in the hard disc and new answers developed.
Diversification
It was in 2001 that, as part of its diversification and development plans, C-DIT formed a new division on `educational informatics', a term it coined for the science of applying information and communication technologies to all facets of the educational process.
The idea is to offer a novel educational experience to the user through a programme that he can control, interact with and participate in.
The new planetarium programme, "Saturn - Lord of the Rings" offers a rendezvous with the icy planet, one of the main wonders of the solar system with a set of ribbon-like rings spinning around it. It is shown how a gravitational `scissor-lock' of two small moons prevents the rings from spreading.
The museum already has nine exhibition galleries pertaining to various science topics. An aerospace gallery is in the process of being developed in association with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. The new galleries and show were formally inaugurated by the Education Minister, E. T. Mohammed Basheer, today.
By M. Harish Govind
Photo: S. Mahinsha
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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