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Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Critics' Pick
550 Madison Ave.,
New York, NY 10022
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Official Website
Hours
Tue-Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun, noon-5pm; Mon, closed
Nearby Subway Stops
F at 57th St.
Parking
- Nearby Parking Lots
- Street Parking
Prices
Free
Profile
A four-story exhibition space, the Sony Wonder Technology Lab is popular with tour groups, families and technophiles, who crowd its high-tech interactive displays. Much of the sleek, futuristic lab is designed to appeal to youngsters, from the �login� station where visitors program ID cards to the �logout� kiosk where museum-goers receive personalized certificates as souvenirs. The entry hall gives a brief history of the development of television, which quickly leads into modern-day reruns, and technological activities that let visitors mix their own music videos, play a game on the giant PlayStations, or experiment with fake medical imaging. Creating one's own movie previews sets the mood for checking out a subsequent short film in the 72-seat High Definition Theater. Although admission is free, the caveat is that visitors must wait in long lines at these exhibits�though there’s usually no line for the less popular, more educational displays that explain the science and technology of Sony products. The best way to avoid the crowds altogether is to plan your trip for Saturday or Sunday.
B.B. WonderbotThis talking robot, named through a contest at the lab, chats with visitors while they wait in line. Once visitors get inside, they'll find out the secret to B.B. Wonderbot's seemingly human conversation.
HDTV Movie
A four-to-10-minute film screens regularly in the High Definition Theater allowing visitors to get a taste of Sony's TV technology.
Guided Sign Language Tour
Free, usually once a week; check calendar on their website. Private sign language tours also available with a reservation at least one week in advance. Call 212-833-5414 for more information.