Unit Number 1: Introductory Kiosk, triangular

Side one has the introductory labels for the exhibition and a graphic of a child in a space suit.

Side two has two small cases containing non-interactive exhibits that explain where wool and cotton fibers come from and how they are processed into yarn.

Side three has two small non-interactive exhibits that explain where silk and synthetic yarns come from and how they are produced.

Unit Number 2: Fiber Detective

Unit has a hexagonal table with three exhibits mounted at sides 1,3, and 5

Side one has an interactive exhibit entitled “Be-Weave It or Not”. This is an interactive exhibit, which allows visitors to weave flat strips into a warp to simulate various weaves.

Physical and Electrical Data

This is a non-electrical exhibit. It contains loose parts in the form of the plastic slats used for the weft.

Side three has an interactive exhibit entitled “Magni-Fiber” which consists of a video monitor, flex-microscope and a turntable which holds samples of cloth with six different weaves to be examined. The six samples are: Plain Weave, Leno Weave, Tapestry Weave, Warp Knit, Twill Weave, and Non-Woven Fabric. There are also accompanying detailed color drawings that show the weave being viewed in detail.

Physical and Electrical Data.

This exhibit requires 120 volts at about 300 watts of power. Unit also contains a fiber optic light source for the microscope. No loose parts.

Side five has an interactive exhibit entitled "Identi-Fiber" with fabric samples, which the visitor is asked to touch. The idea is that fabrics of various types can be treated with finishes that make them feel like different kinds of fabric then they actually are (faux fabric if you will). There are ten samples; only three are cotton.

Physical and Electrical Data

The unit has small pilot lamps that are activated by switches. 120 volts at about 25 watts is needed. There are no loose parts.

Unit Number 3: Thermal

Unit has a hexagonal table with three exhibits mounted at sides 1, 3, and 5.

Side one has an interactive exhibit entitled “Insulation”. Visitors can feel five different types of filling used for insulating clothing: Wool, Goose Down, Artificial Fleece, Foam, and Fiberfill.

Physical and Electrical Data

This unit is non-electrical and has no loose parts.

Side three has an interactive exhibit entitled “Keep Out the Cold” which allows visitors to test out how different materials keep out the cold. It consists of two solid-state cold plates that are mounted to the back of hand-shaped aluminum plates that are very cold. The visitor first places his bare hands on the plates. They are very cold. He then places his hands on a pair of hand-shaped liquid-crystal plates that show the coldness of his hands. He then puts a glove on one hand and tries the experiment again. The glove keeps his hand warm. There are two different types of glove to try.

Physical and Electrical Data

This unit contains two cold plates and the power supplies to run them. It requires 120 volts at about 600 watts. No loose parts; gloves are tethered to the unit. The unit also has two liquid crystal panels that show the temperature of hands placed upon them.

Side five has an interactive exhibit entitled “Wind Breakers” which allows visitors to see how different types of fabric block airflow. There are six different samples they can test: Spandex, Cotton, Silk, Denim, Nylon, and artificial fleece. A blower is used to supply the air and the samples are rotated into position with a turntable.

Physical and Electrical Data

This unit has a Gast regenerative blower to supply the air. It is set up with a time delay relay so when the activation button is depressed, it starts the blower that will continue to run for about 30 seconds. The time delay is adjustable so if a longer or shorter activation time is desired, it can be reset. Power requirements are 120 volts at about 350 watts.

Unit Number 4: It’s Fasten-Ating.

This section of the exhibition has two parts, one is a stand-alone exhibit, and the other has two exhibits that are mounted on the same L-shaped wall.

The L-shaped wall has on the inside surfaces an exhibit on Velcro. It consists of a wall covered with Velcloth. Visitors can stick various objects with Velcro on them to this wall to see how this type of fastener holds things together.

On one of the outer surfaces of the same ell is mounted a giant (48 inch tall) zipper. Visitors can try this zipper out to see -in a hugely magnified way- how a zipper works.

The stand-alone exhibit uses a Wenzscope to compare how Velcro and burrs are similar. A small slider that contains a set of miniature Velcro gears in one end and burrs in the other allows visitors to inspect both very closely. The gears are set up so one has Velcro hooks on it and the other has the Velcro loops on it. As the visitor turns one of the gears, the action of how the two lock and unlock can be clearly seen

Physical and Electrical Data

Two of these exhibits (the Velcro Wall and the Giant Zipper) are mechanical and need little maintenance, etc. The third exhibit, entitled “Hook the Loop” has the Wenzscope and its associated light source. Power requirements are 120 volts at about 200 watts.

Unit Number 5: Get Ec-Static and Action Wear

Unit has a hexagonal table with three exhibits on sides 1,3, and 5

Side one has an interactive exhibit entitled “All Charged Up” that consists of a number of different fabric samples on tethers that can be rubbed against a Teflon rod that in turn is used to activate an electroscope to show static build-up. The samples range from simple cotton to a piece of fake rabbit fur.

Physical and Electrical Data

The unit has four samples tethered to it and the electroscope that requires its ground wire to be grounded via a regular 120-volt outlet. There are no other power requirements. The Teflon rod has been made small enough so it is not a hazard.

Side three has an interactive exhibit entitled “Get Ec-Static” which shows how static charge can build up on the body and clothing and that it is possible to eliminate this charge with a ground connection. The exhibit has a very large voltmeter with 3 inch high bright red LED numerals that shows the presence of charge in a very graphic way.

Physical and Electrical Data

The exhibit requires 120 volts at about 25 watts to operate. The exhibit is supplied with a small piece of carpet to be placed in front so visitors can scuff their feet to build up a charge. There are no small or loose parts with this exhibit.

Side five has an interactive exhibit entitled “Gotta Hand it to You” that consists of a timer and tethered work gloves of various types that can be worn by the visitor to see how these gloves affect manual dexterity. There are a number of small plastic shapes (actually we are using the shapes and holes that are a part of the Playskool “Form Fitter” toy) and similarly shaped holes though which to pass these shapes. The task is easy to do without the gloves and quite hard when the gloves are worn. The object is to see how quickly you can put the shapes into and through the right holes with and without wearing the gloves.

Physical and Electrical Data

This is a non-electrical interactive exhibit with tethered gloves and small plastic shapes that are loose. These shapes are large enough not to be a choking hazard for those under the age of three. The timer is battery activated.

Unit Number 6: Visibility

This unit is contained within a flame-retardant tent that is about 8 feet square.

“Reflect Sight” is an interactive exhibit that allows visitors to use a video microscope to examine the microscopic structures of various reflective materials used in clothing for safety or visibility purposes. The visitor can rotate a turntable, which holds six different samples of reflective material that use either microbeads or microprisms to reflect the light.

Physical and Electrical Data

This exhibit uses a specially constructed video microscope that was designed and built at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. This microscope uses a light emitting diode as the light source. The unit is made of cast iron, steel and aluminum and is designed to be durable. Power requirements are 120 volts at about 200 watts.

The second exhibit in this tent, entitled “Reflection Protection” consists of a number of pieces of clothing that have reflective materials attached to them. These are viewed using personal (like glasses) “head light” flashlights that the visitor can wear. They can also view a giant reproduction of a microprism with the same headlights.

Physical and Electrical Data

There is no question that the wearable headlights are very likely to break or be stolen (even though they are tethered). These are considered to be an expendable part of the exhibit and ample spares are supplied with the exhibition spare parts.

Unit Number 7: Try It On

This stand-alone exhibit gives visitors, especially younger ones, the opportunity to try on different types of clothing, especially occupational garments. Included are such items as safety vests, a pith helmet, a welder’s helmet, a fire fighter’s coat, and foul weather gear.

Physical and Electrical Data

The exhibit has three sides set at 120 degrees forming a semi-enclosed space with two side panels to hang up the clothing (hopefully!). The central panel holds a large Plexiglas mirror so those trying on the clothes can see themselves.

Unit Number 9: PreSchool Area