APL Digital Makerspace: Technology Petting Zoo

After you visit, tell us what you #MadeAtAPL!

Technology Petting Zoo

The Tech Petting Zoo is an interactive display located on the 5th floor of the Central Library that showcases emerging technologies. Our plan at Austin Public Library is to rotate the displays every season to ensure that we always have a fresh, interesting interactive experience for the public. A couple of staples that will always be out on display in the area are our VR Oculus Quest 2 headset and Makerbot 3D printer. 

Current Display: Summer 2024

Interested in 3D printing? Currently APL Innovate offers free 3D printing opportunities via monthly 3D printing programs. Check out our program calendar for an upcoming 3D printing program.


Check out our three Method X 3D printers, which are permanent fixtures in the Tech Petting Zoo. Designed by Makerbot, these 3D printers convert STL files into physical offerings. We have a variety of prints showcased at all times that are designed to serve as references and inspiration for those interested in creating their own works.

Welcome to my Homepage is an international online residency program hosted by The Museum of Human Achievement in Austin, TX that offers artists a low-stakes opportunity to experiment and explore the web as a site for creative production. The program is a non-traditional art venue that encourages net.art appreciation and conversation online and in the real world. Founded in 2014, Welcome to my Homepage has since hosted over 85 artists globally across the web.

Text FX is an Artificial Intelligence Experiment that uses Google's PaLM 2 large language model. These 10 tools are designed to expand the writing process by generating creative possibilities with text and language.

Can Artificial Intelligence create a fake person? With each refresh of the page, a new face materializes - a face that is entirely fictitious, the product of complex algorithms and neural network wizardry. The Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) employed by the website have been trained on vast data sets of real faces, allowing it to extrapolate patterns and details that make the generated faces eerily realistic.

Infinite Craft is a sandbox browser game that was created by Neal Agarwal in 2024. Players of the game combine the four classic elements - Water, Fire, Wind, and Earth - to create new elements. The elements that are created include everything from objects and places to concepts and characters.

Previous Display: Winter 2023-24

Fantastic Arcade is a showcase of indie, international, and cult videogames. Curated by The Museum of Human Achievement in Austin, TX, Fantastic Arcade hosts Games Y'all each month, a meetup for indie game developers, digital artists, and fans to play games, showcase new work, and connect.

In 1996 Flash Player was released, changing the world of video games forever. The tool enabled developers across the world to create in-browser games that could be played by anyone with a computer and internet connection. This display provides a visual history of flash games, serving as an archive as well as a record of their influence on the gaming community.

Tuck and Rolo was coded and designed by Austin local and creative software engineer, Walt Mitchell for PICO-8. PICO-8 is a fantasy console for making, sharing, and playing tiny games as well as other computer programs. It runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Check out our 3D printer, which is actually a permanent fixture in the Tech Petting Zoo. Designed by Makerbot, this 3D printer converts STL files into physical offerings. We have a variety of prints showcased at all times that are designed to serve as references and inspiration for those interested in creating their own works.

Visit our Artificial Intelligence Librarian when you visit the lounge on the 5th floor. This digital concierge will answer any questions you have pertaining to 3D printing. (Please do not ask questions related to other topicsit won't know the answer.)

Welcome to my Homepage is an international online residency program hosted by The Museum of Human Achievement in Austin, TX that offers artists a low-stakes opportunity to experiment and explore the web as a site for creative production. 

The Flynth synthesizer is a versatile and intuitive instrument that features six octaves, a wide range of instrument simulations, and a multitude of presets. It is compatible with Macs, iPods, and iPhones.

Previous Display: Summer 2023

The Electric Zine Maker drawing interface allows you to import your digital zines and collaborate with others. This interactive tool enables users to paint, smudge, and write text among other things.

Welcome to my Homepage is an international online residency program hosted by The Museum of Human Achievement in Austin, TX that offers artists a low-stakes opportunity to experiment and explore the web as a site for creative production. 

TinkerCAD is a free of charge web-based program that offers 3D modeling, electronics, and coding. It's a powerful and easy-to-use tool for creating digital designs that are ready to be 3D printed into physical objects. 

The Flynth synthesizer is a versatile and intuitive instrument that features six octaves, a wide range of instrument simulations, and a multitude of presets. It is compatible with Macs, iPods, and iPhones.

Net Art Anthology aims to address the shortage of historical perspectives in the field of art. This series takes on the complex task of identifying, preserving, and presenting 100 exemplary works in the field.

Check out our 3D printer, which is actually a permanent fixture in the Tech Petting Zoo. Designed by Makerbot, this 3D printer converts STL files into physical offerings. We have a variety of prints showcased at all times that are designed to serve as references and inspiration for those interested in creating their own works.

Visit our Artificial Intelligence Librarian when you visit the lounge on the 5th floor. This digital concierge will answer any questions you have pertaining to 3D printing. (Please do not ask questions related to other topicsit won't know the answer.)