Best Buy and the Intel Experience Zone-access to inspiration #Ad

We were compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.  All thoughts are our own.  Technology is awesome.  Technology can also be super confusing.  Because of that Intel and Best Buy have teamed up to bring the new Intel Experience Zone to 50 Best Buy stores throughout the U.S.

 

According to a recent study by Intel 79% of Americans are excited about learning more about new technology.  However, half of them are frustrated by the lack of access to the new technology.

Case in point the 3D printer, how about those tablet/computer combos, how big is an Intel chip and can my children really spend 40 minutes in a certain area inside Best Buy without breaking something?  It’s cool, they’re awesome, it’s really tiny (but powerful) and yes, two boys in a Best Buy could be entertained and not break something for 40+ minutes.

At our local Best Buy we met Erik.  At each store where there is an Intel Experience there is a dedicated team member whose sole responsibility is to staff-and be knowledgeable about Intel and various new tech that you’ll be seeing everywhere soon.

 

The boys were most interested in the Mars Rover test drive.  It’s an augmented reality game that people can play that really lets you see the fun that this technology can do.  Erik then went on to tell us that augmented reality is already being used in practical applications at IKEA and Super Cuts in their apps to see how a sofa or stylish new cut would look on you.

We got the overview of the computer that is also a tablet that can be flipped over or detached.   In our mind we called this one the mullet, because it was all business in the front, but a party in the back.

 

Our oldest also liked playing with the DJ and light that was set to Ne-Yo.  He was playing with the treble, drums, synths and eager to drop the bass like a pint sized David Guetta.  We tinkered with the lights for a second but were really eager to see the 3D printer.

(for those over 40) Remember when you first received or sent a fax?  That technology blew my mind as did the ability to record live TV.  The 3D printer looks like one end of a transporter.  It’s an open ended square that has the ‘ink’, for lack of a better term shot down from above.  The silicon is shot down into a pattern that has been programmed into the computer.  In theory anything can be printed, they’ve done organs, are in the process of printing food, houses and more.  When we were done with this I was tempted to ask Erik if the holodeck was open, but I feared he wouldn’t get my Star Trek TNG reference.

The Intel Technology Experience is 240 square feet of cutting edge, user friendly and testable technology.  It demonstrates the power of Intel and how one little chip can change the world.  All Intel products are produced with conflict-free minerals.  They don’t do business with countries or areas that are in the blood mineral trade.  Intel also does some grants and other community service deeds that we learned about.

All this time my two young and active boys were playing with the 3D objects that had been printed, the tablets or playing with the bigger computers to tweak Ne-Yo’s sound.  The Intel Technology Experience can be found at certain Best Buy stores, for the location near you just check out the link.