Scientists offers "science tricorder" designs for education
updated 08:50 pm EDT, Thu March 29, 2012
Demo shows dual OLED model
University of Arizona researcher Dr. Peter Jansen has detailed "the Tricorder project," an open design project that aims to develop tricorder devices that first appeared as fictional tools in the Stark Trek series. A demo video shows the Science Tricorder Mark 2, which runs Linux and integrates dual OLED touchscreens and a variety of sensors.
The project was founded while Jansen was a graduate student at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, starting in 2007 with the basic Science Tricorder Mark 1. The endeavor is geared for educational purposes, in an attempt to create new tools that can be used to visualize and teach scientific concepts.
The Mark 2 model offers a suite of sensors that monitor atmospheric, electromagnetic, and spatial parameters. Users can take advantage of a variety of visualization options, while the hardware is designed to be upgradeable for further development.
"By having access to general tools, people can learn about leaves, or air, or clouds, or houses — or light, or magnetism, or temperature — or anything the Tricorder can help them see," Jansen said. [via Slashdot]
