Panasonic Hall of Science and Technology

The Panasonic Hall of Science and Technology is a showcase for the past, present, and future of the Panasonic parent company, the Matsushita Electric Industry. The tour begins on the first floor entrance, which showcases a pair of DLP (digital light projectors) on two 115" screens merged to form a single image. After a brief introduction by our tour guide, we proceeded up the stairs the "History and Status" exhibit (photo to the left) which highlighted the early products of the Matsushita Corporation including a space heater, electrical plugs (the company's first product), and a table radio. This high-tech giant emerged from these humble beginnings. The remainder of the second floor highlighted the latest in audio/visual equipment, including still and video cameras and high-definition displays (a big hit!), as well as their home appliances, green technology, and the manufacture and application of semiconductors. This part of the tour affords visitors a glimpse of what to expect in the immediate future.

The third floor of the hall focused upon the future applications of IT or information technology. The applications were far-ranging. The photo to the left explains prototypes of automated car navigation systems and in-dash interactive direction finders that link to existing GPS systems. Imagine getting in your car and letting it do all the driving. All in the not-too-distant future. Another part of this floor was devoted to the next generation of cellular communication, advanced examples of those all-in-one phone/camera/pdas that are now becoming popular. Some examples of this technology are shown in the photo to the right. The tour was topped off by a trip to their home theater room, a small theater with mammoth speakers and a high definition projector. We were treated to a multichannel demonstration of the Eagle's Hotel California.

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