The Enlightened Eye

The Enlightened Eye is a museum interactive made for the
Liskeard and district Museum designed to deepen visitor
experience of mineral specimens. The Enlightened Eye
supports a system of planetary gears allowing mineral samples to be examined sequentially by a digital microscope. Using a touch screen and a specially designed interface, visitors can annotate and select close up views to make unique responses that can be shared online.
The machine uses seemingly antiquated technology; the kinetic machine styling is an evocation of the camera obscura and the orrery, think magic lanterns and Joseph Wright of Derby’s Eighteenth century paintings of scientific enlightenment experiments. Simple Manual controls are positioned to encourage visitors to cooperate, engender collaboration and enrich participation.
These compositional considerations are part of a deliberate
approach. Where aesthetic design and affordances are meant
to support memorable interactions and meaning making.
Additionally by inviting virtual and material inspection through a drawn response, the Enlightened Eye aims to connect the objects under scrutiny persuasively to the visitor.