An educational game designed to teach complex topics
Representatives of the NeuroSys Future Cluster at RWTH Aachen University (AMO GmbH) were faced with precisely this challenge: how can the complex topics addressed by this research consortium – which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) – be communicated in a clear and accessible way? And not only to other interested scientists and researchers, but above all to non-specialists from society, the media and politics.
Play is the highest form of research.Albert Einstein
Get to grips with abstract concepts
Task
Neuromorphic hardware – a fundamentally new type of computer chip, whose structure and mode of operation are modelled on the human brain. This enables, for example, significantly faster and more energy-efficient data processing. The aim was to develop a highly communicative and attractive exhibit for this field of scientific research.
Concept: a playful basic framework featuring a hexagonal ‘playing field’, multiple thematic levels, variable narrative building blocks and flexible entry points, in order to do justice to the complexity of the subject matter.
Conceived in a neuromorphic way. Told in layers.
The exhibit forms part of an open, personal dialogue and follows specific communication principles:
- from the simple to the complex
- interaction rather than mere information
- storytelling rather than a flood of data
- educational narrative building blocks
- short and concise messages
Future Tech Puzzle
This deliberately analogue and playful exhibit, designed to make the abstract concepts of this new technology ‘tangible’, offers an accessible and hands-on introduction. Using handy building blocks, the topics can be presented, facilitated and explained by NeuroSys’s subject matter experts.
Future Tech Puzzle
The future at your fingertips
An expandable and modular framework comprising differentiated building blocks enables flexible communication of topics, ranging from individual components (e.g. memristors) through structures (e.g. crossbar arrays) to complex fields of application (e.g. edge computing).
This allows a story to be told flexibly, from the details to the big picture, in a way that specifically engages different target audiences – ranging from a quick overview to an in-depth exploration, with links to case studies.
The fully analogue set-up encourages participants to engage in direct and personal conversation. Suitable for all types of events, it requires just one person to transport, set up and supervise the equipment.
A practical approach
Theory becomes practice.
re:publica in Berlin is one of Europe’s largest festivals for the digital society – the ideal venue for bringing future technologies out of the laboratory and into the spotlight. It is here that the NeuroSys Cluster is using the jointly developed ‘Future Tech Puzzle’ for the first time.
As part of the ‘Innovations-Maschinenraum Deutschland’ joint stand, the cluster demonstrates how excellent research is turned into tangible applications. The puzzle brings neuromorphic technology to life: touch it, put it together, understand it – hands-on knowledge transfer.
First stop: re:publica.
You can find more background information here
Projects facts
Client
Neurosys Future Cluster at RWTH Aachen University
Location
Aachen
Services
- Strategy consultancy
- Concept development
- Innovation communication
- Storyline development
- Exhibit development
- 3D visualisation
- Prototyping
facts
- 8 different ways to start the story
- Over 40,000 possible narrative paths
- Project duration: 7 months
- First use: re:publica
