Ideum designs and creates interactive computer-based exhibits, multitouch installations, rich Internet applications, and social networking sites for museum and Web visitors. We work closely with museums, nonprofit organizations, and socially responsible companies to create memorable visitor experiences.
Since 1999, we’ve worked on over 70 interactive media projects in the fields of art, culture, history, music, science, and technology that cover a variety of topics. The goal is to create visitor-centric exhibits that seamlessly integrate a balance of compelling design, intuitive user interfaces, and dynamic content. The exhibits we develop adhere to the highest technical and accessibility standards.
While Ideum focuses on delivering technically flawless interactive exhibits and Web applications to our clients, we also experiment with new and promising educational technologies. We have developed our own multitouch table as a platform for multiuser and gesture-based exhibits. In 2009, Ideum released Gestureworks, the premiere multitouch authoring framework for Adobe Flash and Flex.
Our custom exhibit and Web work has been honored by the American Association of Museums’ MUSE Awards, the Webby Awards, the Pirelli International Multimedia Awards, the Museums and the Web Conference “Best of the Web,” and other industry awards. In addition, we designed and operate Museum Blogs and Museum Podcasts, twin directories and aggregators for the museum community. More recently, we launched Multitouch Blogs, a news and directory site for multi-touch technology. You can connect with Ideum on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Key People
Jim is the director and founder of Ideum. Formerly he was the Director of Interactive Media at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. While at the Exploratorium, his department was responsible for developing educational Web resources and media exhibits for the museum floor. For his work at the Exploratorium, he received a Smithsonian Computerworld Award, an Association of Science and Technology Centers Award for Innovation and three consecutive Webby Awards for “Best Science Site.” Jim taught courses on design and technology at SFSU’s Multimedia Studies Program for seven years starting in the mid-90s and currently teaches for the Cultural Resource Management Program at University of Victoria, British Columbia and the Technology-Enhanced Communication for Cultural Heritage (TEC-CH) program at the University of Lugano, Switzerland.
James Kassemi
As the Senior Software Developer, James has extensive experience building and maintaining web-based applications. Before joining Ideum, he founded Tweeked Ideas, a company responsible for the design of community-driven websites. James is fluent with many open applications and programming frameworks and avidly supports open source software and development. His development methods focus on efficiency, security, accessibility, and stability.
Paul Lacey
Paul is the Senior Multitouch Engineer at Ideum. Paul has a BS in Physics from the University of Exeter, England and an MA in Educational Technology from Michigan State University. Before coming to Ideum, Paul taught science and math, then went on to found Quantunet, an educational technology company producing video tutorials for students and professionals worldwide.
Chad Person
Chad Person is a Project Coordinator and Designer at Ideum. He received a Master of Fine Art from the University of New Mexico. Before joining Ideum, he held the position of Art Director at Red Paw Technologies, and Editorial Director at Terifik.com. He is an internationally exhibited fine artist with work in numerous public and private institutions. His primary intent is to find harmony at the intersection of design and experience.
Chris Gerber
Chris Gerber is the Software Architect for GestureWorks and a key Flash developer for Ideum. He studies at the University of New Mexico, and is working toward a degree in Biochemistry and applied Computer Science. Before joining Ideum, he established himself through experimentation with attention to detail in multimedia design, programming, and photography.
Nichole Girard
Nichole is a Designer at Large at Ideum. She received degrees for Recording Arts and Digital Media from Full Sail, and currently specializes in interactive design, art direction and media integration. Before joining Ideum, she focused on Web design and production, Flash production and user interface design. As a DJ for 13 years, Nichole will be studying at Berkeley College of Music in the Fall of 2010, and her vision is to fuse her knowledge of interactive design with music technology.
James Cartwright
James focuses on CSS, XHTML, accessibility and Web standards for Ideum. His work focuses on finding that ’sweet spot’ where functionality, accessibility, cross-browser compatibility and standards compliance meet. Before moving out West, James was the sole proprietor of a Web design firm in Asheville, North Carolina. In the previous millennium, he explored the printing/copying industry, early typesetting technologies, rare book conservation, and traditional/aboriginal epistemologies. James is an accomplished old-school barista, an off-the-beaten-path film buff, as well as a husband and father of three.
Chris Steinmetz
Chris Steinmetz is an exhibit technician and support specialist at Ideum. He works to design and construct MT-50 Multitouch Tables as well as being the point person for multitouch hardware support. Before coming to Ideum, Chris handled support for Hewlett Packard and Intel and worked as an electrician. Chris has an associate’s degree in computer science.
Erin Rose
Erin Rose is a developer and exhibit technician at Ideum, specializing in social media and content development. In her time with Ideum, she has worked to create exhibits for Alaska’s Imaginarium, NASA, and the California Science Center. She recently graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Studio Art.
Matthew Valverde
Matthew is a multitouch programmer at Ideum focusing on Flash ActionScript development. Before arriving at Ideum, he concentrated on Flash and Audio Production projects as an independent contractor. While utilizing his natural instincts and intuitions for programming, his emphasis is on clean, stable and intuitive design. He believes that listening is the key to the universe of learning. The space between the notes and fluid rhythm are what draws Matthew to both music and programming.
