A robotic device called a beam is opening the doors of museums to all, even those who can't travel.
Matt Markovich explains how this amazing technology works.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
HENRY AND JANE EVANS ARE TOURING THE SEATTLE ART MUSEUM, INDEPENDENTLY, VIRTUALLY, SEEING WHATEVER THEY WANT.
(Matt Markovich/Reporting): "Can you show me where they Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast painting is, sure lets go."
YOU SEE HENRY CAN'T DO IT HIMSELF.
(Henry Evans/Quadriplegic): "This is absolutely amazing, what a great way to see a museum"
A STROKE 12-YEARS AGO, LEFT HENRY A QUADRIPLEGIC, BED RIDDEN WITH NO VOICE AND THEY LIVE IN CALIFORNIA - A TRIP TO SEATTLE WOULD COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
(Henry Evans/Quadriplegic): "So basically, if not for beam I wouldn't go."
BUT USING BEAM, A ROBOT WITH A WIDE-ANGLE CAMERAS, THAT HENRY HAS FULL CONTROL OVER, HE CAN NAVIGATE ANYWHERE AROUND THE MUSEUM USING THE ARROW KEYS ON HIS LAPTOP, KEYS HE CONTROLS WITH HIS EYES.
(Henry Evans/Quadriplegic): "It gives me the sensation of walking and it allows me to socialize again it has given me a part of my life back."
AND THE COUPLE CAN TALK TO ANYONE.
(NATS) "Nos vivons en Californie"
EVEN A VISITING FRENCH CLASS OF KIDS.
(Alison Bower/Museum Visitor): "I thought it was an interactive art project."
BUT WHEN VISITORS REALIZE HE'S BED RIDDEN.
(Alison Bower/Museum Visitor ) "I think it is so liberating and incredible, and that our children got to share that experience with him as well look they are following him to see where he's going to go ( laugh )
IT WAS HENRY'S IDEA TO PUT BEAMS IN MUSEUMS.
(Jane Evans/Wife of Quadriplegic): "His goal is to use technology to free up bed ridden people all over the world."
(nats)
I TOOK CONTROL OF A BEAM AT THE SAN DIEGO AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM.
(Matt Markovich/Reporting): "It took me five seconds to understand how it works"
THE BEAMS ARE 16-THOUSAND DOLLARS - LAST 8 HOURS ON A CHARGE - JUST NEEDS A WIFI OR CELLULAR CONNECTION TO THE INTERNET - BUT IN A MUSEUM?
(Matt Markovich/Reporting): "You're going to have to put bumpers on it for a guy like me."
(Chirag Thakkar/Digital Media Manager/Seattle Art Museum) "It was really a tough sell as long as we had security staff watching the device's every moment it was roaming in the galleries."
A TOY IT'S NOT, BUT EYES, EARS AND LEGS FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T MOVE - IT IS - HEAVEN SENT.