Live Moment: Communication Landscape of 2025
In Auckland on September 20, 2025, MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology) invites you to an exciting day dedicated to the evolution of communication. MOTAT's LIVE Day: Communications takes place at 805 Great North Road & Meola Road, Western Springs, Auckland, offering a unique experience for kids aged 7-12 years and families (whānau) alike.
The event showcases Aotearoa's history of communication technology, taking attendees on a fascinating journey from room-sized computers to the compact cell phones we use today. The Get Smart exhibition is a highlight, covering the history of punch cards, coding, and various communication codes like Morse code and X.
For those who want a hands-on experience, the Telecommunications space offers a chance to interact with telecom equipment and technology. Visitors can try operating a switchboard and even use a rotary phone, offering a glimpse into the past.
One of the interactive activities is "Investigating satellite dishes," where participants can use an umbrella as a curved reflector to increase a cellphone's Wi-Fi signal. Although this activity does not focus on communications satellites being used for sending and receiving radio signals for television, phone, or internet communications, it demonstrates the versatility of satellite dish technology.
Satellite dishes, originally designed for satellite signal reception, can be adapted to improve Wi-Fi signals through their parabolic design to focus and strengthen wireless signals over longer distances. By concentrating and directing Wi-Fi transmissions, satellite dishes can act as high-gain directional antennas for Wi-Fi frequencies, increasing range and signal strength in a specific direction.
The event is part of MOTAT's ongoing efforts to educate and entertain, providing a fun and engaging way to learn about the history and evolution of communication technology. For more information, visit the website: https://motat.nz/events/live-day-communications-2025.
[1] History of Communications Satellites: https://www.britannica.com/technology/communications-satellite [2] Evolution of Satellite Technology: https://www.space.com/18732-satellite-history.html [3] Iridium Satellite Constellation: https://www.iridium.com/about-us/company-overview/history [4] Sputnik 1 Launch: https://www.britannica.com/event/Sputnik-1 [5] Arthur C. Clarke and the Invention of the Communications Satellite: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arthur-C-Clarke/The-invention-of-the-communications-satellite
- Visitors at MOTAT's LIVE Day: Communications can discover the evolution of not only traditional communication methods but also technology related to education-and-self-development, such as the history of communications satellites.
- As part of the diverse range of activities, the "Investigating satellite dishes" exhibit at the event showcases a practical application of technology, demonstrating its versatility in lifestyle enhancements, including technological advancements like high-gain directional antennas for Wi-Fi frequencies.
