In the spring of 2022, the Technical Museum opened its new major undertaking – a new permanent data and telecommunications exhibition with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI). The ambitions were high. The Technical Museum did not only want to convey this complex and increasingly relevant field – they wanted visitors to experience artificial intelligence in practice. Computas where on their team.

ICT often revolves around what happens behind the screen and inside a machine, and can be difficult to communicate through a museum format. Therefore, Computas was invited to find a way to visualize ICT, with a particular focus on AI (artificial intelligence), in a way that would be engaging for the public. The result was the exhibition I/O, designed by Snøhetta. I/O is an abbreviation for input/output and alludes to the communication between humans and machines.

“The Technical Museum and Snøhetta had an exciting ambition that the exhibition should not only teach the public about AI, but that through the exhibition they should experience and reflect on how it actually works”, says Thomas Bech Pettersen, CTO at Computas.

AI as a Supporting Element

Computas was invited to contribute its expertise in the field. The IT company has been working with AI since the mid-1980s. The Technical Museum and Snøhetta sought both ideas and input, and most importantly, a sparring partner who could guide them towards feasible solutions. From the early idea phase of the project in 2019, Computas has contributed with advice on technological possibilities, technical solutions, and software.

A series of workshops were held on the content and direction of the exhibition. Computas also developed a solution sketch for the control system itself. A key idea was to use AI as an integral part of the exhibition, while also exploring solutions with long-term perspectives.

Personalized Museum Experience

The result is an interactive exhibition that, using artificial intelligence, offers each visitor a personalized route through the exhibition and dynamic storytelling. This can be based on information the user chooses to provide about themselves, or how the user responds to the objects in the exhibition.

Upon entering the exhibition, visitors pick up an identification pin that registers the individual’s actions and movement through the exhibition, and logs in by answering various questions. I/O responds by offering different routes through the exhibition that are tailored to each individual. In this way, each visitor has a completely unique experience every time they visit the exhibition.

Successful Result

“It has been fun and inspiring to contribute our expertise to this process. I am very impressed with what the Technical Museum has achieved and how the exhibition has turned out. In addition, we are proud that Computas” history has also been given a small place in the exhibition,” says Pettersen. He is referring to a Xerox 1108 “Dandelion” Lisp machine that was acquired by Computas in 1986, and which is one of the exhibits.

“Before I/O, there were no ICT exhibitions as complete and comprehensive anywhere in Norway. We are in the midst of the digital age and at all levels, from schoolchildren to business leaders, there is a need for arenas to discuss and understand. Through I/O, we tell the ICT stories on which our future will be built. And by that, I definitely mean technology, sustainability, and the green shift,” says museum director Frode Meinich.

Games Should Teach Children About AI

Over three summers, Computas’ summer interns have also contributed content to the exhibition at the Technical Museum. The assignments have involved creating additional experiences of how AI works in practice. The work has resulted in two games that can be used by visitors in the exhibition. One is a digital drawing game where the player draws a figure, and using artificial intelligence, the machine guesses what the user is trying to draw. The game is built on Microsoft Azure, and has an interface to handle 1-player and 2-player modes. The teams that have developed the games have been responsible for the entire process, worked closely with the Technical Museum and experienced mentors at Computas, and conducted user tests in the exhibition.

In the summer of 2022, Computas’ summer interns added another element to the I/O exhibition. As a permanent part of the exhibition, they delivered a game designed to teach children and their parents about machine learning. The game is adapted to provide children with hands-on learning, while adults have the opportunity to read and learn about machine learning and what it entails.

“The museum, of course, has experts and expertise, but we have very good experience inviting summer interns into our exhibition projects. It’s a great way to bring in valuable and new knowledge from the outside. We have exchanged ideas and learned from each other. Come to the museum and experience what we have achieved together”, concludes Meinich.