As befits a city that is the capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose's main museum is not devoted to history or art, but to science. The Tech describes itself as The Museum of Innovation. That, then, doesn't just mean science, it means the cutting edge of science, both in what is on display, and in how it is displayed.
This year being 2001 there was the inevitable space exhibit. Much of it is based around the science fiction art of Robert McCall, but the premise behind the exhibition is to look at how far science has actually come in reproducing what science fiction predicted.
As might be expected, The Tech revels in computer-based exhibits. There is a digital media workshop in which you can make a complete multi-media presentation: audio, video, animation, the lot. You can also create your own web site and publish it on the museum's web site for all the world to see. And, of course, you can take a virtual reality tour of the museum.
Still in the computer vein, there is a section devoted to computer-aided design. You can design your own bicycle. Alternatively, if that is a bit too safe, design your own roller coaster and then sit down to watch a computer-simulated video of what it would be like to ride it.
A large area of the museum is now given over the medical technology. This ranges all the way from how the body works to genetics to the latest surgical techniques. Have you ever fancied trying keyhole surgery? The museum has a very brave mannequin whose job it is to be operated upon by scores of budding surgeons.
And of course there is much more. You can feel what it is like to experience an earthquake, ride in an astronaut's jetpack, and flick through a catalogue of some of the best photographs taken by the Hubble telescope. Just about everything is hands-on, and every opportunity is taken to make use of technology to enhance the museum experience. The Tech isn't that big a museum, but if you stop to play with all of the toys on offer you will be there all day and still not have tried everything. That, of course, means that you will have to come back the next day for the IMax cinema.