Phonotrope
Persistence of vision is an optical phenomenon that makes “motion pictures” possible. Early optical/animation toys like the zoetrope, praxinoscope, and phenokistiscope demonstrate this phenomenon. The Phonotrope is an adjustable frequency strobe and a record turntable to create animation.
The Magic Mirror, a toy from the 1950s, turned a record player into a praxinoscope. The resurgence of popularity in vinyl LPs has also sparked a proliferation of records with animated graphics on them. Recording the record spinning on a cell phone is required to see the animated image. The Phonotrope makes it possible to see the animation without the aid of a phone.
The controller and lampshade are both made from aluminum cake pans. The lamp arm is a Luxo microphone arm, a nod to Pixar’s Luxo Jr. The electronic functions are controlled by an Arduino Nano microcontroller programmed by my collaborator Akshita Bawa.
