Fibers
The idea here is to present internal reflection, meaning the inside of a light pipe or a fiber acts like a mirror keeping the beam inside the material and guiding it to the other end. This can also be done with lens or a creative shape, like the Balance Bird. The point is that in addition to reflecting light with a mirror you can use a transparent object to make Light go where you want it to go. This is particularly apparent with a semicircular lens.
A plastic light pipe provides a large scale concrete visible experience plus an opportunity to practice aiming the laser.
The fiber offers the opportunity to shape a light guide almost anyway the child can think of and still get the beam from source to destination.
The key point is that a fiber can be used to communicate by coding the light flashes. Teachers do it all the time by turning classroom lights on and off. Also by clapping hands, which is coded Sound rather than coded Light. Then there's Morse Code, which is coded Electricity and then Sign Language and Semaphore, which are coded Motion. Braille which is coded shape. Finally there is the printed word which takes us back to the manipulation of Light through imagery in order to communicate. Light converted to Consciousness. This is not a philosophical point. This is a survival skill.
A plastic light pipe provides a large scale concrete visible experience plus an opportunity to practice aiming the laser.
The fiber offers the opportunity to shape a light guide almost anyway the child can think of and still get the beam from source to destination.
The key point is that a fiber can be used to communicate by coding the light flashes. Teachers do it all the time by turning classroom lights on and off. Also by clapping hands, which is coded Sound rather than coded Light. Then there's Morse Code, which is coded Electricity and then Sign Language and Semaphore, which are coded Motion. Braille which is coded shape. Finally there is the printed word which takes us back to the manipulation of Light through imagery in order to communicate. Light converted to Consciousness. This is not a philosophical point. This is a survival skill.
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