Welcome to the Museum. There are actually six museums: a camera museum, a computer museum, a calculator museum, a bicycle museum, a typewriter museum and an "other technology" museum which for now has tennis and racquetball racquets, clocks and watches, GPS receivers, televisions and auditory equipment (radios, etc.), phones, cars and books. There are over 400 items in the museums with a value when new exceeding $200,000! (This excludes the cars. The most expensive items were some of the computers which were $10,000 or $20,000+ each when new.) The value now, and the price I paid, is a small fraction of that amount. Some items are still relatively useful (for example, many of the bicycles) while others are functionally obsolete. To visit a museum, click on one of the museum pictures above, or use the menu.
Why a technology museum on a teacher's Web site? I'm fascinated by the advancements in technology even in my lifetime. (I was born in 1957, the same year the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik.) Also, technology has much to do with what I teach - math and computers. Technology also has a lot to do with other subjects like science, history and religion. Technological advances are a direct outgrowth of advances in science and in turn our technology gives us the tools to increase our knowledge in the sciences. Technological advances, for better or worse, also constitute or contribute to some of our most important historical developments. Wise use of technology holds the promise of making the lives of everyone in the world better. Conversely, unwise and selfish use of technology promotes war, causes environmental degradation and damages the human spirit. Therefore, how we use technology also has much do with religion.
Almost all of the items belong to me. (Exceptions are three cars which I have disposed of and some bicycles for which I have old photos.) I collected these items because of my interests in photography, computers, math and bicycles. They are also good examples of advances in technology. Some of the items are things I have used over many years. Most of them I acquired in recent years at garage sales and through e-Bay. Many of these recent items are things I wish I could have afforded when they were first on the market. After 20 or 30 years, prices tend to fall dramatically! My goal is not to collect particularly valuable items. Rather, I collect items that interest me, are affordable and represent a wide range of technology. If you want more detail about any of the various types of items, check out my "links" section also.
Browse and have fun. Come back often to see what's new.
|
