Jurascopes (2007)

For the new permanent exhibition at Berlin’s Museum of Natural History, ART+COM has developed its timescope to a Jurascope. Seven of these media telescopes, two of them barrier-free, connect the visitors’ knowledge of dinosaurs from movies with the original exhibits. The units are located at two positions in the dinosaur hall, where all animals are clearly visible.

When visitors look through a Jurascope, at first they will see the skeletons in the hall. By then turning the Jurascope, they can choose a dinosaur and start the animation: One after the other inner organs, muscles, and skin will appear. The animal is brought to its natural habitat and starts moving, feeding and hunting there. Sounds from the environment and the animal itself contribute to the experience.

The sequence lasts around 30 seconds, then the dinosaur moves back to its former position, freezes and is once more a skeleton in the hall. Visitors may now choose another dinosaur or move to the second group of Jurascopes.

All seven skeletons exhibited in the museum can be seen in animation in the jurascopes. Some of the animals are on their own, others in contact with fellows or enemies. Thus, the Elaphrosaurus tries to hunt down a Dysalotosaurus.

Jurascopes are a joint development of ART+COM and WALL AG.

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