Paolo Tosolini, a tech veteran and founder of Tosolini Productions, has created a virtual tour of the former Living Computers: Museum + Labs in Seattle to help preserve the memories of the institution. The museum, which closed for good in June, housed a collection of computing history assembled by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The virtual tour, originally created in 2015 and updated in 2017, provides a detailed 3D view of the museum and includes links to the Christie’s auction of some of the artifacts from the collection.
The virtual tour, created using technology from the 3D capture platform Matterport, features interactive “hot spots” to 16 items that are up for auction. Users can explore the museum and view a variety of former exhibits, including mainframes, micro and minicomputers, early Microsoft software packages, an Apple Newton Messagepad, a Microsoft Surface tabletop, and more. While not all auction items are tagged in the tour, users can still navigate through the museum and even explore areas that were originally off-limits, such as behind mainframes.
Despite the easy access provided by the virtual tour to the auction site, Tosolini is not rushing to purchase any of the computers, some of which are expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars. One item he mentioned considering is the Apple-1, but he is unsure whether investing in it would be the best choice compared to other options. Tosolini also created a tour of the first floor of Living Computers, which showcased more modern technology and interactive displays, and both tours can be experienced in virtual reality through headsets like the Meta Quest.
Tosolini’s work not only aims to preserve the memories of Living Computers but also highlights the potential of technology in historic preservation. In addition to scanning the former museum, he has scanned airplanes for Seattle’s Museum of Flight and captured shoreline views on Lake Washington. His virtual tour of the old Randy’s Restaurant near Boeing Field preserves the diner that was demolished in 2021. While it may be too late to use the technology on artifacts from Living Computers, Tosolini is experimenting with virtual tours that combine augmented reality views of items. He believes that this technology is opening doors for museums to connect with people and preserve history in innovative ways.
In addition to his work with Living Computers and other museums, Tosolini has used virtual tours to capture different historical sites and institutions. His tours offer a glimpse into the past and provide a unique way to experience and interact with artifacts that may no longer be accessible in person. Through his innovative use of technology, Tosolini is helping to bridge the gap between the past and the present, allowing people to explore and appreciate history in new and engaging ways.
