Ideum

Ideum
Name	Ideum
Type	Private
Founded	1999
Founders	Chris H. and N; (founders omitted per linking rules)
Headquarters	Corrales, New Mexico, United States
Industry	Interactive exhibits, multitouch tables, hardware design, software development
Products	Interactive multitouch tables, multitouch walls, exhibit installations

Ideum Ideum is a United States-based company specializing in interactive exhibit design, multitouch hardware, and custom software for museums and cultural institutions. The company develops multitouch tables, multitouch walls, immersive installations, and exhibit systems used by institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, American Museum of Natural History, and National Air and Space Museum. Ideum’s work spans collaborations with organizations including National Park Service, Library of Congress, and corporate partners like Google and Microsoft.

History

Ideum was founded in 1999 and evolved alongside advances in multitouch interfaces and museum technology, engaging with institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, Cooper Hewitt, and Museum of Modern Art. Early work intersected with projects involving MIT Media Lab, Walt Disney Imagineering, and IBM research groups, while later collaborations connected the firm to initiatives at National Park Service, National Gallery of Art, and American Museum of Natural History. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s Ideum’s trajectory paralleled developments from Apple Inc. and Microsoft in touch computing, and its installations were cited in exhibitions curated by teams from Guggenheim Museum and Tate Modern. The company continued to expand into large-format displays and networked interactive systems in concert with partners such as NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History.

Products and Technology

Ideum produces multitouch tables, multitouch walls, gesture-based systems, and custom exhibit software compatible with content from institutions like Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, and British Museum. Their hardware integrates components from manufacturers such as Intel Corporation, NVIDIA, and Samsung Electronics and employs input technologies influenced by research at Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, and University of Washington. Software stacks have been used in exhibitions curated by staff from Cooper Hewitt and Museum of Modern Art and have supported datasets provided by Smithsonian Institution, American Museum of Natural History, and Natural History Museum, London. Ideum’s systems emphasize compatibility with media formats and platforms associated with Adobe Systems, Unity Technologies, and Epic Games.

Projects and Commissions

Ideum has been commissioned for exhibits at institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, American Museum of Natural History, Field Museum, and Exploratorium. Specific projects have interfaced with research or collections from NASA, NOAA, US Geological Survey, and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and have been featured in exhibitions organized by Guggenheim Museum, Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Royal Ontario Museum. The firm has delivered installations for cultural events and venues linked to Sundance Film Festival, South by Southwest, and BETT Show, and worked on public-history projects with National Park Service sites, Historic New England, and academic partners at Princeton University and Harvard University.

Clients and Partnerships

Clients include major museums and institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, Cooper Hewitt, American Museum of Natural History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, and Field Museum. Corporate partnerships and clients have included Google, Microsoft, Intel Corporation, NVIDIA, and Samsung Electronics, while technology collaborations have linked Ideum to labs at MIT Media Lab, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Washington, and Georgia Institute of Technology. International clients and partners include British Museum, Natural History Museum, London, Royal Ontario Museum, and municipal partners in cities like New York City and London.

Facilities and Manufacturing

Ideum maintains design and manufacturing facilities in Corrales, New Mexico, and has collaborated with fabrication shops and prototyping partners associated with Fabbaloo-style maker communities, local machine shops, and university labs such as those at New Mexico State University and University of New Mexico. Hardware production incorporates components from suppliers like Intel Corporation, NVIDIA, and Samsung Electronics, and uses assembly processes comparable to those in small-scale manufacturers working with entities such as MakerBot communities and regional fabrication networks. The company’s facilities support prototyping practices common to engineering groups at MIT and Stanford University.

Awards and Recognition

Ideum’s work has been recognized by museum-industry awards and technology showcases connected to organizations including American Alliance of Museums, Museum Computer Network, and SXSW Interactive. Installations have been highlighted by publications and exhibitions associated with Smithsonian Institution, Cooper Hewitt, and coverage in media outlets that profile innovation like Wired (magazine), The New York Times, and Fast Company. The firm’s projects have appeared in conferences and award programs involving International Council of Museums, American Alliance of Museums, and festival showcases such as South by Southwest.

Category:Companies based in New Mexico