Web Lab by Google

During my trip to London-ini last week, we paid a visit to the gigantic Science Museum - which was very impressive! They had tons of interesting objects to gaze and read about. I think one of my favourite exhibits was called 'The Secret Life of the Home', which showcased household objects through the ages - including this little gem...

What a crazy hairdryer! (Plus the mannequin's eyes followed you down the corridor - creepy!)

But yes, the exhibit I was interested to see was Google's 'Web Lab' (which I read about in Creative Review). Web Lab is a series of online experiments created by Google - exploring how people can interact more deeply with the internet, and vice versa.

We were given a Lab Tag, which was our key to access the various experiments. The key would keep a record of what we had achieved with each experiment, which we could review at home or on a machine in the museum.

We then proceeded to try out all the experiments, I'm afraid I didn't get photos of them all, but heres the ones I got:

This experiment was called Sketchbots. You took your photo through a web cam on a computer, the computer then translated your face into lines that could be drawn into the sand.

Universal Orchestra was a series of musical machines which people in the museum and people online could conduct. A simple tutorial taught you how to play the notes on the various 'instruments' in each musical machine. The sounds of all the instruments would merge together, creating this strange melody that sort of symbolised the internet (thats what I felt anyways…)

Data Tracer showed a person whereabouts in the world a piece of information (such as an image) actually came from on the internet.

So there ya go! It was an interesting little exhibition, and you can check it on Google's Web Lab website HERE. (They do encourage you to download Google Chrome, but there is a basic version you can enter if you prefer - but you won't get the same experience).
It has lots of information on each experiment, so you can find out lots more than what I've just regurgitated!

The whole of the Science Museum was great fun, so after you've checked out the Web Lab (and you have the time), you should check out all the other stuff going on there! Theres a really interesting little exhibition on the code breaker Alan Turing which I definitely recommend!