The Edison Tech Center

Resources
The Edison Tech Center provides online learning resources as well as hands-on displays.
Many of our online resources use photos from our collection of artifacts.

1. Hands-on Learning: On-site Displays (lower part of this page)
2. Online Resources (see below)

Online Resources:

Engineering Videos: We have many videos highlighting the history, present and future of engineering.

Hall of Fame: profiles/information on prominent engineers 1830-today.

The Electric Light: Learn about the many ways to make light, a multimedia experience

Engineering Forum: A place to publish articles on engineering related issues

Electric Power Generation and Storage

Generators and Dynamos HVDC (High Voltage DC)

Batteries History of AC Power

Steam Turbines* AC Power Phases

Gas Turbines

*Non-linked items are under construction

Power Transmission and Control

History of Electrification: Birth of the Power Grid Transformers

Automatic Control / Sys. Engineering Capacitors

Insulators

Power Applications

Electric Motors Insulators

Electric Cars Rocket Guidance

The Electric Lamp Nuclear Powered Subs

Radio, Audio & Television

Radio History Microphones

The Loud Speaker Recording Mediums

Semiconductors and Computers

Lasers Semiconductors Main Page

Photovoltaics Computers

Learn about the original tech valley:

Technological Heritage Map : use geography to find out where inventions were made in New York State

GE Research Lab: 111 years of innovations

Schenectady Inventions List : A list with links on the numerous developments that happened at GE Schenectady and the Research Lab

Featured Pages

Learn by geography: Highlighted Engineering Sites: history and current sites of importance.

HANDS ON LEARNING
On-Site Resources:

Displays and interactive exhibits for ages 12 and up:

The Edison Tech Center has over 10,000 artifacts built during the
Electrical Age that reflect these emerging/converging technologies.

Technologies are displayed in various sections of the Edison. Visitors may explore freely or request information from some of our volunteers.

The Edison Tech Center has volunteers which specialize in various areas of technology. Several of our volunteers have worked at the GE Research and Development Center(Global Research Center) and the General Engineering Lab. They love technology new and old, and wish to tell the public more about the fascinating world of engineering and science.

How to use our facilities if you are a teacher or professor:

Displays

The Skypes Building at the Edison is loaded with accessible displays. Unlike a Museum, the displays are flexible and at table level. Most objects are able to be touched and picked up. Guests must take care with objects as this a rare opportunity to see artifacts that are normally behind glass. We at the ETC feel that it is necessary to have the full tactile experience in order to understand the workings of past technology. Due to the fragile nature of many artifacts all children must be accompanied by adults.

We feature samples of technology from the following areas:

-Audio / Video Recording 1880s-Today
-Electric Cars: Detroit Electric Car from 1914, owned by electrical pioneer C.P. Steinmetz
-Solar (PV) Technology
-Microwave Technologies: A full range of microwave ovens, from the earliest to the latest in induction heating.
-Gauges: all forms of gauges for measuring and "seeing" electricity
-Microphones and Radio Technology
-Computers: we have a small section featuring old computers and storage mediums

We have 6 sections in consecutive order for learning the basics of electricity:

Batteries: 1800 - Today
Magnetism: The discovery of the electromagnet and its role in electricity
Power Generation: DC generators from the 1890's to the latest compact AC generator
Power Transmission: Transformers, Lighting Arrestors, Insulators, Wire
The Electric Light:
Carbon Arc Lamps, Induction Lamps, Incandescent Lighting (1870s-2000s), Fluorescent Lighting, Hot/Cold Cathode, Low/High Pressure Sodium, Mercury Vapor, LEDs
The Electric Motor:
We have all different sized electric motors. In this same section we also have examples of automatic control engineering: using servos, dynamotors, and switches.

Programs

(This may change by season)

Every Saturday 2pm: Meeting of the IEEE Employment Network

Fridays 5-7pm: Workshop Friday -- Edison Tech Center makers work on the rapid prototyping machine or learn about useful tools.

-January 21-24 - Workshop on Accelerated Test Data Analysis. How to measure and improve product quality. Presented by Dr. Wayne Nelson. LEARN MORE

-March 15, 2013 - Dave Hochfelder discusses the history of telegraphs. For more information check back at our website or we'll send you updates on events via our Facebook page.

-April 2013 - Annual Steinmetz Day - this usually consists of a slide show and talk about some element of history or current technology.

Multimedia

The Edison Tech Center has a wealth of information online and in video form. We have two Channels on YouTube which provide videos for free, as well as a DVD, VHS, and Film library on site. Learn More

Library: There is a library on site which contains many books on Engineering, Edison, General Electric, Westinghouse, Schenectady, and more.

Visit Us - Directions

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Photo/Video use:
Commercial entities must pay for use of photos/graphics/videos in their web pages/videos/publications
No one commercial or public is allow to alter Edison Tech Center photos/graphics/videos.

Educational Use: Students and teachers may use photos and videos for school. Graphics and photos must retain the Edison Tech Center watermark or captions and remain unmanipulated except for sizing.

Permissions - Videos: We do not email, FTP, or send videos/graphics to anyone except in DVD form. Payment is needed for this service. See our donate page for pricing, and our catalogue for a listing of videos on DVD.
Professional video production companies may get videos in data form with signed license agreements and payment at commercial rates.

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