Demonstration of a discussion terminal for knowledge acquisition and opinion formation in science museums

There is a trend for active visitor engagement at science museums: Visitors' opinions about science topics are often integrated into exhibitons, today. Modern discussion-based installations are described in this paper. In particular, we present a computer-mediated discussion terminal which was designed to mediate and encourage elaboration on and opinion exchange about the topic nanotechnology as one of the most explosive science topics nowdays. It is supposed to foster critical thinking, knowledge acquisition, and opinion formation at science museums. The rationale behind and assumptions about the impact of this discusion terminal are explicated.