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New "Careers for Life" Health Exhibit Opens at the Orlando Science Center

An interactive and educational exhibit highlighting specific career options in the health industry strikes a chord among young adults searching for an exciting job in the medical profession.

PR Log (Press Release) - The Orlando Science Center, Orlando, FL introduces a new educational health exhibit, "Careers for Life," this month at their location at 777 East Princeton Street in Orlando. Produced by Ocoee, FL based FX Design Group (FX), "Careers for Life" is a new themed interactive educational environment where young adults can witness the excitement of various medical professions as they start to think about their own careers. The Orlando Science Center hired FX to design and fabricate the exhibit, which was funded by a grant from the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration.

"Careers for Life" uses a combination of a medical case re-enactment video presented in a mini theatre and a four-station interactive kiosk that allows visitors to explore each specific medical profession related to the re-enactment case. Each kiosk station provides an interactive video question and answer opportunity designed to educate the visitor about that medical specialty. The video responses are told by professionals who answer in their own words, creating a passionate connection with the visitor.

The re-enactment video follows the chronological treatment that a stroke victim could receive; from the time they are diagnosed and admitted to a hospital, continuing all the way through treatment, rehabilitation and subsequent discharge from the hospital. "A stroke was the approved illness of choice because all five of the medical specialties highlighted in the kiosk could be involved in treating a stroke patient," stated Paul Meena, Vice President of Themed Environments for FX. "After watching the video re-enactment on a large screen projection system, the audience exits the theater area and is directed to a unique kiosk station. Once there, they can learn more about the specific professions that were highlighted in the video", Meena continued. "Through the interactive kiosk, the visitor can choose from a list of career questions presented on a monitor that they would like answered. They then see and listen to the medical specialist answer the question via the monitor and sound dome. Each professional shares their personal stories in their own words about why they chose to enter this field of medicine".

The Department of Labor grant was secured by the Seminole State College of Florida, who then chose the Orlando Science Center as the appropriate venue to house the exhibit. Once FX came on board, the Partnership for a Healthy Community supported the project with in-kind contributions and assistance from a committee comprised of their members made up of several local hospitals, colleges, universities and technical schools. "Whenever you have this many partners engaged in the daily process of an extremely exciting project, it can easily become cumbersome unless managed properly. The FX team managed all of the partners seamlessly. The result is an exhibit that thrills all partners. It's an educational exhibit about the health industry that will not only excite our young audience, but older visitors as well," said Kim Hunter, Exhibit Development Director, of the Orlando Science Center.

Greg Piper, the Project Manager for FX, pulled together a group of strong sub-contractors whose areas of expertise were vital to the success of the project. "Odyssey Creative, a local production company we hired to produce the stroke re-enactment video, did an incredible job editing a very compelling story that needed to connect on all levels with the targeted demographic audience. We also appreciated their patience and understanding in dealing with the many layers of the approval process." Piper also commented on the chosen software vendor, the Somerset Group, out of Huntsville, Alabama. "The Somerset team did an excellent job producing the software programs needed to create a truly interactive question and answer kiosk experience."

"Careers for Life" is a scalable, self contained, fully themed educational and interactive free-standing exhibit. It requires minimal operational oversight from the facility. Units can be rented from FX for periods of three months or more or purchased for permanent installation. Designed, fabricated and installed by FX's Themed Environments Division, the multi-station interactive and informational kiosk system could be used by any company or institution which would like to educate customers, visitors or employees about a single or multiple subjects. The graphics which create the kiosk theme can be custom designed to meet any need, along with the information delivered at each kiosk station.

In addition to "Careers for Life", FX is working on several new and unique traveling and permanent exhibit offerings available in 2011 for the science center and museum marketplace.

About FX

FX Design Group is an award-winning design company delivering projects worldwide for the entertainment and television industries. Headquartered in the Orlando area, FX provides a complete compliment of set design, fabrication and installation services all under one roof. This one-stop-service approach provides FX clients with cost savings and logistics efficiencies all focused on maximizing clients budget and time challenges. To learn more about FX Design Group visit www.fxgrouponline.com.

About Orlando Science Center

The Orlando Science Center is one of America's top hands-on science centers where learning is always fun. Located for more than 50 years in Orlando, hands-on learning and discovery await within the center's more than four levels of hands-on exhibits, labs, live programs, giant screen films, planetarium shows and active observatory. Dedicated to "inspire science learning for life," the science center provides educational opportunities both within and outside the center's walls, including field trips, school outreach, and other forms of community outreach. To learn more about Orlando Science Center visit www.osc.org.

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Flight Xtreme Thrills Young and Old Alike At Otronicon 2010

ORLANDO, FL (1/25/10): FX Design Group, LLC introduced its new education directed flight simulator, Flight Xtreme, at the fifth annual Otronicon event held at the Orlando Science Center in January. Flight Xtreme is an immersive simulation game where the pilot must successfully navigate an F18 to land on an aircraft carrier waiting in the waters below.

"Otronicon was a wonderful venue to introduce Flight Xtreme" commented FX's Paul Meena, Vice President of Themed Environments. "The rich demographic mix of this gaming generation gave us a deep testing ground for our Sim system. And the data we collected proves out that people of all ages enjoyed the challenge that Flight Xtreme provided them. We learned that over 80% of those who participated in this immersive experience enjoyed the challenge that the mission provided and would visit the Orlando Science Center again" Meena continued.

Otronicon, which stands for Orlando Electronic Interactive Technology Convention, has seen major attendance each year and this year was no exception. More than 60,000 people have come to the event over the past five years to enjoy hands-on exploration of digital media and interactive technology. "Giving our guests access to cutting edge simulators is one of the keys to Otronicon's success. We use this event as an opportunity to explore how interactive technology impacts the way we live, learn, work and play and FX Group was a wonderful addition this year. Orlando's modeling and simulation industry is a world leader and Otronicon is a great showcase for this technology." JoAnn Newman, President/CEO of the Orlando Science Center.

Flight Xtreme, produced by FX Design Group, in conjunction with their strategic educational and software partner, TEQ Games, both of Orlando, Florida, is a new themed immersive educational environment where kids (and adults) can experience the excitement of piloting a fighter jet using only math and science skills to complete a specific mission. This new flight simulator is a scalable, self contained, fully themed exhibit requiring minimal operational oversight from the facility. Units can be rented from FX Design Group for periods of three months or purchased starting in mid-2010.

In addition to Flight Xtreme, FX is working on several new and unique traveling and permanent exhibit offerings available in 2010 for the science center and museum marketplace.

About FX

FX Design Group, LLC is an Orlando, Florida based design solutions company with strategic partners, clients, and subcontractors worldwide. FX started out more than 20 years ago as a provider of scenic services for broadcast television and corporate events. Today FX's unique team brings together experienced 'top tier' design, journeymen craftsman, and lighting specialists as well as theme park, media and marketing professionals, all working to create unique solutions for our clients and one-of-a-kind experiences for their viewers and guests. (http://www.fxgroupenvironments.com).

About TEQ Games

TEQ Games is an Orlando-based company focused on the development of immersive and creative learning applications for Training, Education, and Qualifications that use virtual world game play and simulation technology. The TEQ Games mission is to develop compelling and immersive learning experiences through virtual world game play and simulation technology for the education, military and corporate markets. TEQ Games is focused on creating multi-sensory, immersive learning experiences that challenge and excite students so their time in the classroom mirrors their dynamic, digital lives outside the classroom. http:/www.teqgames.com

Contact Information

For more information about Flight Xtreme or other FX projects please contact Paul Meena at pmeena@fxgrouponline.com or by phone at (407) 877-9600.

To learn more about Otronicon please visit http://www.otronicon.org

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FX Design Group, LLC to Help FAM Members Drive Up Traffic

ORLANDO, FL (September 14, 2009): The FX Design Group, LLC will be presenting at this fall’s FAM conference on Thursday, September 24th at the Sarasota Ritz Carlton a session entitled ’Weathering The Storm By Driving Up Traffic’. This unique breakout session is designed to educate museum managers/ administrators/ operators how maximizing their museum’s media exposure can be a powerful tool for driving attendance.

’Having worked with local television news stations for over 20 years we know what an impact they can have on consumers and viewers. Local museums are in fierce competition for patrons with everything from video games to the internet. We hope that we can educate the audience about how they can team up with their local news station when they return home and change that dynamic’ commented FX’s Kevin Osgood. Attendees of the seminar will learn how to attract local news time to promote their programs.

In addition to the breakout session, FX will be representing their museum partner, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose (CDM), exhibiting a number of CDM’s most exclusive and popular educational interactive exhibit components’Gear Up! and Pinscreens. FX will also be showcasing an exciting new themed immersive educational environment. Show participants who visit the FX booth can experience the excitement of piloting a fighter jet using integrated math and science skills in this new flight simulator that will be available in 2010. This exciting exhibit is produced in partnership between FX Design Group and their strategic educational and software partner, TEQ Games of Orlando, Florida.

The annual conference for the Florida Association of Museums will be held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Sarasota Florida from September 21 through September 25, 2009. FX Design Group, LLC can be found at booths #30 & #31 during the conference. FX Design Group, LLC is also happy to announce that it has recently been awarded a project with the Orlando Science Center entitled ’Careers for Life’. This 1,000 sq. ft. exhibition is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with Seminole Community College, will be devoted to creating awareness of the burgeoning opportunities in the health care field. Complete with a 30-seat theater and large screen projection system; this exhibit is due to open in 2010.

About FX

FX Design Group, LLC is an Orlando, Florida based award winning design solutions company with strategic partners, clients, and subcontractors worldwide. FX started out more than 20 years ago as a provider of scenic services for broadcast television and corporate events. Today FX’s unique team brings together experienced ’top tier’ design, journeymen, craftsman, and lighting specialists as well as theme park, media and marketing professionals, all working to create unique solutions for our clients and one-of-a-kind experiences for their guests.

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