Zoetrope Abstract by Anish Chaganti

The Zoetrope is a cylindrical shaped device that shows pre - picture animations which provides illusions to the human eye by showing a set of pictures moving as you progressively spin the device creating constant phases of motion. The device was originally named “Doedaleum” by an English mathematician named William George Horner in the 19th century and was modified throughout the years. The Zoetrope device was extremely significant because it was the earliest form of recording animations and events through pictures before phones and cameras even existed. The Zoetrope is a spinning cylinder with slits cut vertically in the sides. There is a row of sequential images on the inside of the cylinder, the user should look through the cuts and see the pictures move while the cylinder is moving. It was the earliest form of 3D image available even before phones and cameras were invented where you can see pictures move through an illusion of motion. Cinematography is hugely influenced by the zoetrope, due to the zoetrope’s ability to create effects through motion presenting closely related images from one to another, paving its way to the future of CGI, graphics, and effects. In modern day classrooms, teachers can use this to demonstrate rotation and motion to students. It’s extremely user - friendly and gives an insight of how a zoetrope operates and how it influences modern day gadgets we use today on a daily basis. Students can see the origination of GIF, animations, and motion pictures and learn how rotation and motion works by testing the zoetrope. A practical demonstration will allow the students to gain a broader understanding of the topic, understand how a zoetrope works, and Figure out how to make one as well. Besides classrooms, the Zoetrope plays an important role when it comes to physics because a lot of explanations/theses of the theories are present in the device allowing the student to learn in an abstract way where they can benefit from, rather than the teacher teaching through a traditional board and marker. Zoetrope influence laid the foundation of a further improvised technology i.e Praxinoscope discovered in 1877. A Praxinoscope is a modified version of the Zoetrope but it included projection in it where moving images can now be portrayed on a screen. The fascinating part of the Praxinoscope was that it brought images to life without looking into a zoetrope to Figure out what is going on. The images were visible to the naked eye and the audience would watch movies through a projector. Without the impact of the Zoetrope, the visual media would not have existed today and we wouldn’t have seen the creativity outburst of modern day motion pictures. “Small things lead to big things which can possibly change the world in a matter of time.” Sources: https://zoetropic.wordpress.com/about-zoetropes/ Papercraft Animation Machine - Make to Learn.