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Exhibit 3 Sand box, Information

What are we looking at? 

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The sandbox uses AR to create the live rendering of a topographical map.  Live as in as you move the sand it reads the new height and projects it.  A topographical map shows the level of the earth above sea level through the circumference of the circles and colors.   

There is an Xbox sensor mounted above the sandbox. Next to it there is a projector mounted.  The sensor reads the levels of the sand as it is moved around, the projector then projects the rendering of a topographical map.  The sandbox is replicating this, even showing blue for water.  If a user wiggles their fingers blue will appear, the program mimicking rain from the wave of fingers. 

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Why is it significant and what are topographical maps used for? 

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This type of interaction allows user to understand the utilization of a topographical map.  They are able to physically manipulate the sand and see in real time how that causes the patterns to change.  They are also able to understand geographical features and water ways by creating renderings themselves. 

 

Topographical maps are utilized in various sectors, geology being the obvious one.  They are also used in civil engineering, landscape archaeology, and water quality research. 

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Who made it? 

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The exhibit was made by intern, Emily Regner, for her Gold Star Girl Scout project. Emily is from San Antonio and worked with SAMSAT CEO David Monroe.  She used the AR program from UC Davis and assembled the computer, sensor and projector to create the exhibit. 

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