Of Soundscapes And Northern Lights

This sound technology area within the Canada Science And Technology Museum featured both artifacts and interactive displays. How we've listened to music has changed down through the years. 

By the mid 1940s, radios could be smaller and placed on a counter or mantel.

And I'm sure many of us have had a walkman.

While most of us have some variation on its contemporary replacement.

Something of a historic treasure, though it looks quite utilitarian, is the first synthesizer, invented by Hugh Le Caine, a Canadian physicist and composer who worked for the National Research Council of Canada for many years, and who created the Electronic Sackbut.

It doesn't look like much, but every musician using a synthesizer today owes it to this device and its maker.

In an alcove off the entrance was a sound and light display. It is here that I end the series. The installation takes its inspiration from the aurora borealis, the Northern Lights, with changing, shimmering lights overhead. I hope you've enjoyed this visit to the museum.

Perspectives Inside The Museum

I've shown you this building before. The old Dominion Observatory stands out at the Experimental Farm, where astronomical work was done for many years. It featured into the astronomy area here in the museum.

Here we have a survey map of Prince Edward Island, the smallest of the Canadian provinces.

I wanted some wider perspective views inside the museum.

Here we had the entrance to the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit.

Turning around gives a view of the theatre space ahead, where regularly through the day, short documentaries are shown or presentations made. When not in such use, images are projected onto a screen.

Such as Paris at night.

Or the Arabian peninsula.

Looking at the map of the museum, I realized I had missed one section- here it is below. It focuses on sound technology, and we'll have a look tomorrow.

Locomotives And Snowmobiles

At this point in my visit to the museum, I was going back and forth looking for additional shots and things I might have missed. I took additional views of the big bays with the locomotive engines.

I also took individual shots of the snowmobiles. This one dated from 1961.

While this was from 1972. 

This last one has seen a lot of action, winning an epic race in 1990.

A final look at the locomotive bays. I'll be wrapping up this series over the next two days.

Technology And Adaptation

Here we have a wider view of Artifact Alley at the Museum.

I paused to photograph some of the bigger equipment.

Then I photographed these tools.

A set of recreational and sporting items drew my attention. These are all examples of adaptive tech, for those who are disabled in one way or another, providing them with a chance to continue to participate or even excel in sports. It starts with this kayak, adapted to allow someone with disabled legs to get out on the water safely.

This takes things further. This rig allows for mountain climbing.

Here we have sit-skis, used by para-athletes.

And for today I finish with this handcycle, customized by a Canadian para-athlete and inventor, Christian Bagg, who broke his back in a snowboarding competition, but didn't let it stop him from carrying on with his life. That included getting out in the woods, and the Icon Explore Handcycle is the result of his designs.

Retro And Contemporary

Carrying on with where we left off yesterday, this is the standard rig for a dog who works in search and rescue operations. A panel introduces one of the dogs who does this sort of work.

I moved on into a section which explored changing technology in and around the home. This included the kitchen.

And outside the home. As suburbia started to grow after the Second World War, cars like the VW Beetle grew in popularity.

Of course if you had a home in the suburbs, you'd have to mow the lawn. And this being Canada, you'd have to do something about all that snow falling.

Some of you might remember when televisions looked like this.

And then there's this video cassette recorder, from the early days of the technology.

This is more contemporary, a roomba, which is also an alternate form of transportation for many a housecat.

I stepped back out into Artifact Alley.