'Futures' Exhibit Looks at Possibilities
2021-12-20
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1The "Futures" exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., gives viewers a look at what may happen in the years to come.
2It is open November 20, 2021 through July 6, 2022.
3The exhibit opened as part of the 175th anniversary of the Smithsonian.
4It is being held at the Arts and Industries Building, which reopened in November after being closed for almost 20 years.
5With more than 150 ideas, improvements, technologies and historical pieces, the installation permits viewers to think about how they will live in the future.
6Some of those exhibits include how human remains can be put to good ecological use by using them to grow a tree.
7Another is a "taxi," but unlike a normal car, it flies, and it can fly itself.
8The Virgin Hyperloop is also exhibited.
9It is a futuristic transport tube that could become a new form of train-like transportation.
10Virgin said on its hyperloop website that it could have "a lower environmental impact" than other forms of mass transportation.
11Virgin said it could transport people at speeds of more than 1,000 kph.
12The exhibit also provides chances for thought by looking back to past technological improvements, like an 1800s experimental telephone.
13The exhibit was designed by the Lab of Rockwell Group, a building and exhibit design firm in New York.
14David Tracy is the director of creative technology at Rockwell.
15He said, "The exhibition opens up many different possible forms that the future can take..."
16The exhibits are several, small looks at possible futures.
17The company designed the newest technology installations called beacons.
18They have questions that help "... people's imaginations and get them to think about the kind of future they want to see," Tracy told VOA.
19Tracy said to answer the questions, people use hand movements, holding their hand over an answer.
20This provides health and safety measures since people do not have to touch anything.
21Not surprisingly, there are more questions than answers.
22Jane McGonigal is the director of game research and development at the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, California.
23She said it's difficult for people "to imagine how the future may be different and the technologies that might make it different."
24McGonigal told VOA she provided the questions for visitors to help them imagine the future more clearly.
25One question asks viewers when they think moon tourism will happen.
26Another looks at what the future might be like if meat does not come from an animal, but is grown in a laboratory.
27Viewer Raj Goel from New York got a taste of what that might be like as he looked at an exhibit that was set up like a store with possible food in the future.
28Goel said he is concerned about meat being grown in a lab.
29But he said he liked the idea of mushrooms, a plant-like food, being used as a sort of meatless meat.
30Goel said "Futures" makes him feel a bit like he's walked into a science movie.
31He said he was hopeful "because many things I saw here made me think the future is bright."
32I'm Gregory Stachel.
1The "Futures" exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., gives viewers a look at what may happen in the years to come. It is open November 20, 2021 through July 6, 2022. 2The exhibit opened as part of the 175th anniversary of the Smithsonian. It is being held at the Arts and Industries Building, which reopened in November after being closed for almost 20 years. 3With more than 150 ideas, improvements, technologies and historical pieces, the installation permits viewers to think about how they will live in the future. 4Some of those exhibits include how human remains can be put to good ecological use by using them to grow a tree. Another is a "taxi," but unlike a normal car, it flies, and it can fly itself. 5The Virgin Hyperloop is also exhibited. It is a futuristic transport tube that could become a new form of train-like transportation. Virgin said on its hyperloop website that it could have "a lower environmental impact" than other forms of mass transportation. Virgin said it could transport people at speeds of more than 1,000 kph. 6The exhibit also provides chances for thought by looking back to past technological improvements, like an 1800s experimental telephone. 7The exhibit was designed by the Lab of Rockwell Group, a building and exhibit design firm in New York. 8David Tracy is the director of creative technology at Rockwell. He said, "The exhibition opens up many different possible forms that the future can take..." The exhibits are several, small looks at possible futures. 9The company designed the newest technology installations called beacons. They have questions that help "... people's imaginations and get them to think about the kind of future they want to see," Tracy told VOA. 10Tracy said to answer the questions, people use hand movements, holding their hand over an answer. This provides health and safety measures since people do not have to touch anything. 11Not surprisingly, there are more questions than answers. 12Jane McGonigal is the director of game research and development at the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, California. She said it's difficult for people "to imagine how the future may be different and the technologies that might make it different." 13McGonigal told VOA she provided the questions for visitors to help them imagine the future more clearly. 14One question asks viewers when they think moon tourism will happen. Another looks at what the future might be like if meat does not come from an animal, but is grown in a laboratory. 15Viewer Raj Goel from New York got a taste of what that might be like as he looked at an exhibit that was set up like a store with possible food in the future. 16Goel said he is concerned about meat being grown in a lab. But he said he liked the idea of mushrooms, a plant-like food, being used as a sort of meatless meat. 17Goel said "Futures" makes him feel a bit like he's walked into a science movie. 18He said he was hopeful "because many things I saw here made me think the future is bright." 19I'm Gregory Stachel. 20Deborah Block reported this story for Voice of America. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 21_______________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23exhibit - n. an object or a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at 24installation - n. a work of art that usually has several parts (such as a sculpture, lights, and sound) and that is usually shown in a large space 25taxi - n. a car that carries passengers to a place for an amount of money that is based on the distance traveled 26impact - n. a powerful or major influence or effect 27tourism - n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure