The mission of the Indiana Computer and Technology Museum is to provide a dedicated resource consisting of static and interactive displays to engage participants (adults and children) in learning about computer technology and its applications. 

A visual tour of computers through the last 60+ years. Seeing a tangible representation of Moore’s Law through physical comparison and ongoing demonstrations, both from old machines and new. This should include a timeline consisting of Sun and/or SGI workstations over the past 20-30 years.

A complimentary timeline of IBM-PCs, laptops, and/or Apple computers should also be pursued.

Historical Data Storage

This display would would highlight and describe data storage techniques starting with Hollerith punch card, vacuum tubes, wire-wrapped/magnetic core memory, paper tape, magnetic drum memory and the progression of hard disks from “washing-machine sizes” through current 2.5” laptop drives. As appropriate, these displays would be hands-on, where those visiting the facility could touch, feel, and view the equipment. Lifting a 15” 7MB disk pack and comparing that to a 16GB micro SD card that is the size of a fingernail should leave a lasting impression.

An additional hands-on computer display would be the use of a Frieden Flexowriter (or similar) series data processing system which stores records on paper tape. Someone could sit at the keyboard, enter data on paper tape, then feed the paper tape through the printing device to demonstrate how paper tape works.

Enterprise Computing

This exhibit would showcase modern servers and their features. A Sun Enterprise 10000 could be used to show “hot-swap” capabilities; the ability to turn off a “board” in a computer so it could be replaced, upgraded, or repaired. Literature and displays would discuss highly available computing (clustering) and the differences between that technology and “fault tolerance.” Also, discussion of cloud technologies could also be achieved in the display as well as a discussion of concepts like change control.

High performance computing

Most high performance computing today is achieved through massive parallel computing. A demonstration showing the usage of parallel computing by pushing jobs out across multiple servers to achieve a result would be ideal. This could be achieved with an animation showing a single rat trying to eat a gigantic wedge of cheese. The comparison would be 10 mice trying to eat the gigantic wedge of cheese chopped into 10 pieces. This is analogous to how computer animated movies are rendered and how weather models are predicted.

The concepts of parallel computing do have a rich history and can be exemplified by two servers already acquired, the Encore Multimax and Sun E10000.

The other method of high performance computing comes in the shape of vector processors. Unfortunately, finding a Cray Supercomputer for this kind of demonstration is prohibitive, but an explanation of how this works

Local Computer History

Indiana has a rich computer science history. Purdue housed the nation’s first Computer Science program. Further display and information on Purdue’s CS program could be provided by Purdue.

Although not Silicon Valley, there are a number of local hi-tech endeavors such as Interactive Intelligence, ExactTarget, Scale Computing, Developer Town, and Interactions. Also, there have been companies which have grown from local universities, like Tripwire from Purdue. Each of these is worthy of a small display and literature.

The US Army Accounting center at Fort Benjamin Harrison has used data processing equipment in various shapes and forms since its inception. Naval Avionics (now Raytheon) and Crane Naval Warfare Center also make use of technology. Additional displays can be created showing declassified equipment representing these facilities.

Computer Security and Today

Computer Security is topic of paramount importance, and museum visitors should be able to leave the museum with a basic understand of different kinds of threats and an idea of what a firewall, anti-virus software, and an intrusion detection system (IDS) are. A live display of these pieces of software working together with a SIEM installation

(Alienvault, NetWitness, Splunk and/or ArcSight) can demonstrate threats on a network and a computer. This demonstration would be live, and receive live events from computers at the museum and the network connection the museum uses.

Manufacturing Automation

Indiana is a manufacturing state, and technology has helped drive and expand manufacturing capabilities locally. Ideally a CNC milling machine could be on display and used for demonstrations, as well as a pick-and-place robot. Hands-on programming of these devices would be available as a guided experience to attendees.

Electronics Workshops

Basic electronics workshops designed to give attendees a glimpse into designing basic circuits (how to make a light flash, how to make a motor stop and start rotation.) Ideally using simple project boards or Little Bits equipment (see http://www.littlebits.com/ )

These electronics workshop programs could be marketed to K-12 students and schools as field trip activities or for private parties, or even through summer youth programs (ala “Computer Camp” or “Electronics Camp.”)