GRAPEVINE, TEXAS (May 13, 2014) - The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) welcomes "Human Plus: Real Lives + Real Engineering" to Grapevine's Grand Gallery, 636 S. Main St., May 16 - September 14. Opening during the 30th Annual Main Street Days and concluding during the 28th Annual GrapeFest®, this fun and interactive exhibit tells compelling stories of engineers and users with disabilities who design and use technologies to help themselves and others achieve their goals. The exhibit also allows guests to interact and get their hands on a broad range of actual ability-enhancing tools.
"Human Plus," created by the New York Hall of Science in partnership with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and the Quality of Life Technology Center with funding from the National Science Foundation, offers visitors a chance to explore and create a range of low-tech and high technology tools that restore and extend human abilities. Throughout the exhibit, visitors experience the creative, dynamic engineering process, which involves the user every step of the way.
Once visitors enter "Human Plus," they are welcomed by three individuals whose compelling stories are told through videos and artifacts:
• Erik Weihenmayer, an outdoor adventurer who is blind and uses a variety of tools to help him accomplish his goals. In 2001, Erik became the first blind climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest;
• Elaine Houston, an engineer at the Quality of Life Technology Center. Elaine develops technologies to help others. Elaine herself is a user of assistive technology: a wheelchair and a prosthetic hand and
• Carrie Krischke, an Army veteran who has worked closely with DEKA engineers in the development of a new prosthetic arm known as the "Luke" arm, named after Star Wars character, "Luke Skywalker." Carrie, a busy mother of three, has participated in extensive testing to see how the arm, controlled by the motions of her foot, works.
Along with these influential stories, "Human Plus" features interactive areas including Re-Designing You, RAMPS, Consider This and more. From customized wheelchairs, to a vest that allows the wearer to feel music and neuroprosthetic limbs controlled by a user's thoughts, "Human Plus" showcases an innovative field of engineering that improves lives every day.
The exhibition is free and will be open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. The Grand Gallery is located in the Grapevine CVB Headquarters and Museum Complex at 636 S. Main St. As part of the exhibit, guests are encouraged to attend the Food For Thought Gallery Talk events on Wednesday, May 28, Wednesday, June 25, Wednesday, July 30 and Wednesday, August 27.
Grapevine's art community continues to expand with new and special engagement art exhibitions, recently opened galleries, the Public Art Trail, fine art working studios and more. For more information about Grapevine or any of Grapevine's events, please visit www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com or call 817-410-3185. For more information about Grapevine's museums, visit www.GrapevineMuseums.com.
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