In this issue:
Abe Lincoln Knocked Off His Pedestal
Sleep Better Than Ever
The Need for Speed
More Innovations at The Tech Museum

Abe Lincoln Knocked Off His Pedestal
The new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois is a new take on museums – it’s less educational, and more experiential.

Harvest Moon Studio, working for BRC Imagination Arts, animated a video program that summarizes the Civil War's battles in 4 minutes, complete with a rolling "meter" of the appalling body count.

In the new museum, Lincoln is brought to life through expert scene recreations, ghostly effects, TV debates and lifelike mannequins. The exhibits stress the emotional over the intellectual.

Which has created a bit of a brouhaha. It seems the museum rubs some historians the wrong way. But no one can deny that visitors walk away feeling like they’ve actually been by the man’s side.

Sleep Better Than Ever
In our stressful society, getting a good night’s sleep is no joke. The Community Sleep Awareness Toolkit CD ROM is a beautifully packaged print and CD kit that is sent to Sleep Clinics around the nation, and helps them effectively promote healthy sleep habits in their communities.

Harvest Moon Studio designed the CD ROM with Lisa Toji and the National Sleep Foundation. It's packed with helpful tips on how to get a truly restful night’s sleep (and how to stay alert throughout the day if you haven’t).

The Need for Speed
The science of aerodynamics was never completely appreciated by automobile designers — until Jim Hall revolutionized the sport with his Chaparral Racing Cars.

Working with One + Two Design, Harvest Moon Studio produced "Riding the Whirlwind,” an interactive exhibit at the Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas. This program brings Jim Hall's innovations to life — the movable wing, the ground effects “Venturi” race car, and the aptly named “sucker car” that used snowmobile engines, holding the car to the ground like never before.

More Innovations at The Tech Museum
Sensors and microchips make life easier. Sensors detect a change, like the time on a clock reaching a preset point. Microchips use that information to make something happen, like make the coffee. Or turn on the sprinkler. You can find how it’s all done at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, where Harvest Moon Studio helped create 3 new Silicon Workshop exhibits.

1) "Design a Chip”: An interactive cartoon in which visitors create a chip for that hot new walking, talking, fire breathing toy all the kids want.

2) “Fish Feeder”: Visitors arrange toys in succession to tip food into a fish tank; via touch screen, visitors connect sensors to make the toys move, and then feed the animated goldfish.

3) “Program a Chip”: Visitors connect the command lines of code to make the lovable Mr. Potato Head follow commands.