The Tech Interactive facts for kids
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The Tech Interactive, viewed from nearby Plaza de César Chávez in Downtown San Jose
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| Former name | The Tech Museum of Innovation |
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| Established | October 31, 1998 |
| Location | 201 South Market Street San Jose, California, US |
| Type | Science |
| Visitors | 400,000 annually |
| Architect | Ricardo Legorreta |
| Public transit access |  Convention Center |
| Association of Science-Technology Centers | |
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The Tech Interactive (also known as The Tech) is a super cool science and technology center in San Jose, California. It's a place where you can get hands-on with science, try out fun activities, and solve design challenges. It's all about STEAM education, which means Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math! You can find it right in downtown San Jose, next to the Plaza de César Chávez.
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What is The Tech Interactive?
The building itself is pretty unique, with bright orange and blue colors. It has three floors packed with things to explore! Inside, there's a huge sculpture called Origin that shows how art, technology, and nature are all connected. Near the entrance, you'll see Science on a Roll, a popular sculpture where balls roll along a crazy path.
The Tech also has an amazing IMAX Dome Theater. It's the only one of its kind in Northern California! You can watch exciting movies and educational films on a giant dome screen. It's like being right inside the movie!
How The Tech Started
The idea for The Tech began way back in 1978. It took some time, but in 1990, a smaller, temporary exhibit called The Garage opened. This name was a nod to the famous HP Garage, where many tech companies started.
Then, on October 31, 1998, a brand-new, much bigger building opened its doors. It was first called The Tech Museum of Innovation. In 2019, it got a new name: The Tech Interactive, to show how much fun and hands-on it is!
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, The Tech temporarily closed its doors. But they still offered awesome online STEM activities for everyone to do at home, in both English and Spanish!
Awesome Programs at The Tech
The Tech for Global Good
This program helps inspire young people to become problem-solvers and make the world a better place. It used to be a yearly awards ceremony, but now it's a year-round program! Each year, it focuses on a different important topic, like health care. It highlights groups and people who use technology to solve big global problems, giving students ideas and tools to do the same.
The Tech Challenge
The Tech Challenge is a super exciting competition for students in Grades 4–12. Since 1988, over 25,000 students have joined! Teams work together to solve real-world problems using engineering and design. In the past, students have designed hovercrafts, earthquake-proof structures, or devices to deliver water. It's a great way to get more students, especially those who might not think of themselves as scientists or engineers, excited about STEM!
The Tech Academies
The Tech Academies program helps teachers learn how to bring high-quality STEM lessons into their classrooms. It's a two-year program that trains educators in engineering and computer science, working with San Jose State University. This program has even won awards for being super innovative in museum education!
School Visits
The Tech offers special trips for school groups, both in-person and online. They even have scholarships to help schools that might not have the money to visit otherwise.
Cool Exhibits to Explore
Lower Level Fun
- Social Robots: Here, you can design and build your own robots using sensors and controllers.
- Body Motion: See how your movements affect your health and feelings with cool sensors.
- Space Exploration: Explore amazing innovations in space, including a Jet Pack chair you can try to maneuver!
- Solve for Earth: This exhibit teaches you how to live in a way that helps our planet. Learn about scientists and new technologies fighting climate change.
- Cyber Detectives: Learn about cybersecurity through fun "training modules" and a special mission. It's like being a digital detective!
- The Tech Studio: This is a workshop space where you can get creative and make things!
Upper Level Adventures
- Body Worlds Decoded: This exhibit shows real human body parts that have been specially preserved. You can even use augmented reality to see more details and explore a virtual dissection table.
- The Tech for Global Good: Learn about amazing innovators who use technology to solve big problems like delivering vaccines or helping the homeless.
- Reboot Reality: Step into this space to experience different types of immersive media, like virtual reality!
- Innovations in Healthcare: See how new technologies are changing health care and helping people.
- Biodesign Studio: Explore the exciting world of synthetic biology and bioengineering, where you can learn how to design with biology!
Past Exhibits
The Tech has hosted many exciting exhibits over the years! Some past favorites include:
- Grand Opening Galleries (1998): These explored innovation in Silicon Valley, the human body, new frontiers, and global connections.
- Imagination Playground (2002): Fun, interactive exhibits like "Glow Stones" and "Spy Houses."
- Genetics: Technology with a Twist (2004): Learn about genetics with hands-on activities.
- NetPlanet (2005): Explore how the internet works.
- Green by Design (2006): Discover ways to be more eco-friendly, like with "SuperCap Cars."
- The Tech Virtual Test Zone (2008): Get creative with art, film, and music using technology.
- Tech Awards Gallery (2009): Showcased inventions that helped people around the world.
- Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery (2010-2012): Explored the history and future of technology in Silicon Valley.
- REBOOT: Music (2014): Featured unique musical instruments like Tim Thompson's Space Palette.
- Body Metrics (2014): Learn about your own body's data.
The Tech has also hosted big traveling exhibits, like Body Worlds 2, a special Leonardo da Vinci exhibit, and Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination!
See also
- Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
- Exploratorium
- List of science centers
