The Orlando Science Center, Orlando, FL introduces a new educational health exhibit, ““Careers for Life,” this month at their location at 777 East Princeton Street in Orlando. Produced by Ocoee, FL based FX Design Group (FX), “Careers for Life” is a new themed interactive educational environment where young adults can witness the excitement of various medical professions as they start to think about their own careers. The Orlando Science Center hired FX to design and fabricate the exhibit, which was funded by a grant from the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
“Careers for Life” uses a combination of a medical case re-enactment video presented in a mini theatre and a four-station interactive kiosk that allows visitors to explore each specific medical profession related to the re-enactment case. Each kiosk station provides an interactive video question and answer opportunity designed to educate the visitor about that medical specialty. The video responses are told by professionals who answer in their own words, creating a passionate connection with the visitor.
The re-enactment video follows the chronological treatment that a stroke victim could receive; from the time they are diagnosed and admitted to a hospital, continuing all the way through treatment, rehabilitation and subsequent discharge from the hospital. “A stroke was the approved illness of choice because all five of the medical specialties highlighted in the kiosk could be involved in treating a stroke patient,” stated Paul Meena, Vice President of Themed Environments for FX. “After watching the video re-enactment on a large screen projection system, the audience exits the theater area and is directed to a unique kiosk station. Once there, they can learn more about the specific professions that were highlighted in the video”, Meena continued. “Through the interactive kiosk, the visitor can choose from a list of career questions presented on a monitor that they would like answered. They then see and listen to the medical specialist answer the question via the monitor and sound dome. Each professional shares their personal stories in their own words about why they chose to enter this field of medicine”.
The Department of Labor grant was secured by the Seminole State College of Florida, who then chose the Orlando Science Center as the appropriate venue to house the exhibit. Once FX came on board, the Partnership for a Healthy Community supported the project with in-kind contributions and assistance from a committee comprised of their members made up of several local hospitals, colleges, universities and technical schools. “Whenever you have this many partners engaged in the daily process of an extremely exciting project, it can easily become cumbersome unless managed properly. The FX team managed all of the partners seamlessly. The result is an exhibit that thrills all partners. It’s an educational exhibit about the health industry that will not only excite our young audience, but older visitors as well,” said Kim Hunter, Exhibit Development Director, of the Orlando Science Center.
Greg Piper, the Project Manager for FX, pulled together a group of strong sub-contractors whose areas of expertise were vital to the success of the project. “Odyssey Creative, a local production company we hired to produce the stroke re-enactment video, did an incredible job editing a very compelling story that needed to connect on all levels with the targeted demographic audience. We also appreciated their patience and understanding in dealing with the many layers of the approval process.” Piper also commented on the chosen software vendor, the Somerset Group, out of Huntsville, Alabama. “The Somerset team did an excellent job producing the software programs needed to create a truly interactive question and answer kiosk experience.”
““Careers for Life”” is a scalable, self contained, fully themed educational and interactive free-standing exhibit. It requires minimal operational oversight from the facility. Units can be rented from FX for periods of three months or more or purchased for permanent installation. Designed, fabricated and installed by FX’s Themed Environments Division, the multi-station interactive and informational kiosk system could be used by any company or institution which would like to educate customers, visitors or employees about a single or multiple subjects. The graphics which create the kiosk theme can be custom designed to meet any need, along with the information delivered at each kiosk station.
In addition to ““Careers for Life””, FX is working on several new and unique traveling and permanent exhibit offerings available in 2011 for the science center and museum marketplace.
About FX
FX Design Group is an award-winning design company delivering projects worldwide for the entertainment and television industries. Headquartered in the Orlando area, FX provides a complete compliment of set design, fabrication and installation services all under one roof. This one-stop-service approach provides FX clients with cost savings and logistics efficiencies all focused on maximizing clients budget and time challenges. To learn more about FX Design Group visit www.fxgrouponline.com.
About Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Science Center is one of America’s top hands-on science centers where learning is always fun. Located for more than 50 years in Orlando, hands-on learning and discovery await within the center’s more than four levels of hands-on exhibits, labs, live programs, giant screen films, planetarium shows and active observatory. Dedicated to “inspire science learning for life,” the science center provides educational opportunities both within and outside the center’s walls, including field trips, school outreach, and other forms of community outreach. To learn more about Orlando Science Center visit www.osc.org.
