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Illusion Spinner

Understand the visual persistence characteristics of the human body through a large optical turntable.

Illusion Spinner — Basic Science exhibit for science museums
Studio rendering
CategoryBasic Science
InteractionInteractive installation
Standard sizeCustom size
SupplySingle unit or batch · OEM to your drawing
Lead timeStandard 4–8 weeks after deposit (confirmed per contract)
Warranty1 year, structure and control
DocumentsSpecification sheet · control diagram · spare-part list

A standard catalogue model: the dimensions, control package and finish are fixed, which is what keeps the price and the lead time predictable. Size, colour and interface language can be adapted without a new design cycle.

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01 / Overview

Understand the visual persistence characteristics of the human body through a large optical turntable. The exhibit is designed as a device consisting of multiple discs that can rotate 360 ° and a corresponding number of control buttons. By rotating a large optical disc, the visual persistence characteristics of the human body are displayed. Observe the beautiful patterns produced by the start, pause, and stop of bicycles, pulleys, and gear transmissions, and observe the changes in the patterns. Participants can press any button to control the corresponding disc to start rotating and observe the visual illusion formed by the pattern on the surface of the disc as it rotates rapidly. After a period of time, the disc will automatically stop rotating and return to its original state. Target audience: Full age display format, electromechanical interactive device operation instructions (audience experience) 1 Visitors pedal bicycles and pull pulleys to make the optical turntable rotate; 2. Observe the visual illusion formed by the surface pattern of the disc to understand the visual persistence effect.

02 / How visitors use it

Interaction type: Interactive installation. The unit is designed for unsupervised public use: controls are recessed or shielded, moving parts are enclosed, and the interface is operable by a child of about six with no instruction. Where a screen is used, the language can be switched without changing the hardware, and the content can be replaced on site.

03 / The science behind it

1. Visual illusion: The eyes are very peculiar, they help us obtain information from the outside world. The world we see is so colorful, but we cannot completely trust our own eyes. We can see rotation from static shapes and the complementary green color, purple, from a gray background. Being able to see the same two line segments as different lengths, and also being able to identify non-existent shapes from cluttered images. There are many types of visual illusions, currently divided into background illusion, lateral suppression, Mueller's illusion, depth illusion, transparency illusion, visual afterimage, filling illusion, contour illusion, perspective illusion, perceptual blur, camouflage illusion, motion illusion, and other types. Due to the complexity of visual perception, people have different visual illusions at different levels. And optical illusions, mainly geometric shape illusions, are mainly studied in the types of size illusions, shape and direction illusions. 2. When the human eye observes a scene, light signals transmit.

04 / Built for a public floor

Every unit leaves the factory after a running test: mechanisms cycled, electronics burned in, edges dressed, fixings torqued and marked. Wear parts — bearings, sliders, lamps, belts, touch panels — are modular and listed on the spare-part sheet, so a venue technician can replace them without returning the exhibit. Crating is plywood with foam blocking; the loading plan and packing list travel with the shipment.

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