Fujitsu Innovation Hub opens at The National Museum of Computing
The world’s first purpose-built computer centre, Block H on Bletchley Park, now hosts a Fujitsu Innovation Hub with the latest in classroom technologies as a result of a collaboration between Fujitsu UK, its partners: Intel, Brocade, and Kyocera Document Solutions, and The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC).
The Fujitsu Innovation Hub will have an immediate role in TNMOC’s acclaimed Learning Programme and enable students to directly compare and contrast technologies past and present. It will provide students and educators alike the opportunity to develop their digital skills, break down barriers to technology and enhance career prospects.
The Hub also offers great potential for structured and informal learning. It will be available to general visitors to the Museum and to corporates for team-building activities. Plans to use it as a regional community resource for households with limited access to technology and for ‘relaxed opening’ sessions in an autism-friendly environment are also being actively considered.
Ash Merchant, Director of Education at Fujitsu, said: “The National Museum of Computing is a unique and highly inspirational place, playing a major role in supporting the technology skills development of young people. We’re delighted that the museum is now part of our Education Ambassador Programme, and know that the passion they have for supporting young people will see that the Innovation Hub will support in making a real impact on teaching and learning outcomes – this is the vision that Fujitsu and our programme partners are committed to bringing to life by collaborating with institutions like the National Museum of Computing.”
The Hub, designed as a relaxing, colourful, stimulating and welcoming environment, contains an array of Fujitsu technology including tablets, hybrid devices, laptops and desktop PCs. These systems run on the latest Intel®Atom™ and Intel®Core™ processors to give users access to state-of the art personal computing.
Highlighting 2016 technologies, the Fujitsu Innovation Hub is right next to the famous TNMOC Classroom that houses BBC Microcomputer workstations representing the landmark schools’ computer literacy initiative of the 1980s, and under the same roof as the Rebuild of Colossus, the world’s first electronic computer, and a wide selection of other working computers showing the huge advances of computing over the past 70 years.
Margaret Sale, TNMOC Trustee, said: “To be selected from so many applicants to become a Fujitsu Innovation Hub is an honour and testament to the highly skilled and creative work of our Museum staff and volunteers. We are thrilled to take our place alongside educational establishments to partner with Fujitsu and Intel on the Education Ambassador programme to help develop digital skills of today’s students and educators. Our Learning Team, which greets 5,000 students in groups each year, has great ideas to utilise the space to best advantage.”
Tracey Rawling Church, Head of CSR at KYOCERA Document Solutions UK, said: “We’re proud to have been selected by Fujitsu as one of only three partners for this initiative, and to support in meeting its goal to establish 20 new Hubs in Ambassador organisations this year to inspire students and equip them with the practical skills and knowledge for the digital future ahead.
Amit Samani, Education Manager at Brocade said: “Brocade is dedicated to cultivating innovation and harvesting creative potential within students as a conduit to the changing network requirements and the new IOT era. On this programme we look forward to creating a platform for students to continue their journey through technology while creating ambassadors for the digital future.”
TNMOC warmly thanks all the main sponsors as well as Epson (UK) and other contributors who have helped make the Hub such an inviting and stimulating environment in such an historic location.