Miscellaneous
NCMF Buys Kiosks for NCM Children's Game Room
When the National Cyptologic Museum (NCM) requested assistance from the National Cryptologic Museum Foundation (NCMF) in developing a kiosk and cryptologic oriented software games for young adults, the NCMF agreed to look into the challenge.
After some investigation, the NCMF met with Nisus Technologies, a local Fort Meade small business engaged with support to the Intelligence Community, and its President, Joe Sperber, indicated he knew just the group to help develop game games of a cryptologic nature based on some guidance from the NCMF staff, Jennifer Wilcox.
Nisus provided contact with an associated company, Benxing Entertainment, which specialized in web-based games for young adults. Benxing’s President, Tom Phillips accepted the challenge at no cost and provided two new generation games designed for the kiosks at the NCM. NCM provided the objective of the cryptologic nature of the games, Benxing provided the software games and Nisus provided the integration of the software and hardware at no cost, and the NCMF provided the kiosks.
The two games,"Cipher Express" and "Cryptogram" introduce players, young and old, to the basic concepts of cryptology. "Cipher Express" allows players to try different methods of encryption using a futuristic train. "Cryptogram" allows the player to decipher a variety of different quotes. It also gives parents of younger children a chance to interact as they work together on the breaking the ciphers. Both games have been well received, particularly by teenagers who like testing their skills on technology they're familiar with.
Many thanks are due to Benxing, including Thomas Phillips, Steve Rixie, Eric Krokos, Tom Truong, Jenny Son, Helen Zhang and Doug Newhouse, and Nisus, including Joe Sperber, Aldo Micheli, and Elliot Scott and Kevin Glinecki.
Check out these websites: www.nisustech.com and www.benxing.com.
Visit the museum and play these exciting cryptologic games!
Director, NSA Expresses Appreciation for Kiosk Purchase
INFORM System, Acquired for the Museum, is Retired
An early (1997) acquisition by the NCMF for the Museum was the INFORM system which, at the time, was a modern state of the art hand held tour guide system which was also used by the Louvre in Paris, The Museum of Modern Art in New York City and in some seventy major museums and similar sites world wide. The NCMF paid the Acoustiguide Corporation of New York for the development of the script for many of the Museum exhibits and then leased 25 of the units from them.
The system, which supplemented the use of docents, consisted of hand-held wands that a visitor would use to listen to audio descriptions of various exhibits in the museum. It provided countless hours of enjoyment to many visitors but in recent years the system, based on ageing technology, became obsolete and on October 1, 2009 it was deactivated and its components were returned to Acoustiguide.
The Foundation in consultation with NSA is exploring options for a more modern self-guided system. New communication devices, like cell phones, iPODs, and Blackberrys are being used to provide self-guided, multi-media tours. These systems are state-of-the-art and easy to use and maintain. For example, one system allows the use of an individual’s cell phone. The visitor simply dials a phone number listed at the display, keys in a code number and then listens to a recording consisting of narrative, or music, or even a special effect associated with that display. While much work remains, the Foundation expects once again to support the museum by providing this important capability.
Student Outreach Program
The NCMF was advised in 2008 that the NCM's student outreach program was in danger of being discontinued because of insufficient funds to support contests conducted during their visits. The NCMF is now donating supplies to the NCM in order to insure this worthy program continues.
Advertising the Museum and the Foundation
The National Cryptologic Museum has been described in the media as one of the most unique museums in the United States. Each year over 100,000 visitors tour the museum to learn about cryptologic history from the Renaissance era to the present. Many of these visitors are attracted to the museum by the Foundation's ambitious three-part advertising program.
-In coordination with the museum, the Foundation produces an eight-panel color brochure that highlights the museum's many priceless exhibits and collections and the free admission and guided tours that make it a popular destination for families, school trips and tour groups.
-The brochure program supports both commercial and museum requirements. The Foundation contracts a professional distribution service to keep display racks supplied with brochures at 120 locations in Maryland including Maryland Visitor Centers, hotels and government offices in the Baltimore-Washington Corridor and Baltimore and Annapolis attractions. The brochure is also available to visitors in the museum lobby and is used in Foundation membership campaigns.
-The third phase of the Foundation advertising program is the publication and distribution of table tents. These are attractive bi-fold postcards advertising the museum and upcoming cryptologic events sponsored by the Foundation. A team of volunteers distributes the table tents to NSA cafeterias, lobbies of corporate offices, schools, libraries and coffeehouses in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.
Maryland History Day Competition
Every year the Foundation sponsors a $350-$500 award for the Maryland History Day Competition conducted throughout Maryland Middle and High Schools. In order to qualify for the Foundation award, the student must submit a substantive paper in the field of cryptology. The submission can be in written, oral, or play format and is subsequently judged by a panel of business and academic professionals that includes a Foundation representative. Thus far three students have been selected for the Foundation award.
