What to do on a snowed-in morning?? After shoveling the deck, driveway, and sidewalk of course!
Learn more about the Merge Cube
The Merge Cube is foam block with what looks like QR Codes on every side. WIth the Merge Cube software or App the device camera will project a 3D image onto the Merge Cube. Rotating the cube shows all sides or views of the object in what looks like a holographic image. So after seeing some posts about the Merge Cube and being the curious type I purchased a 2-pack of the Merge Cube. One for me and one for my granddaughter!
The software (Apps) is in 2 parts and available for either Android or IOS, and PC or Mac.
To download from the web site you do not have to commit to the trial. When selected the PC software comes from the Microsoft Store and installed on both my laptop and my desktop PC. The same downloads are available at the Apple Store. The cellphone Apps come from either the Google Play Store or the Apple Store.
Merge Explorer
Merge Object Viewer
Go to this web site for downloads:
https://mergeedu.com/trial
The Hubble Space Telescope with the Object Viewer
(downloads)
https://miniverse.io/cube
I’m not sure about the pricing for the additional Cube Apps, or objects from the Merge Cube web site. You could subscribe for a cost but there are some free alternatives from making your own to editing other designs to simply downloading.
So far I have found two websites and a cellphone App for working with 3D images. Both are sources for 3D objects to purchase, download and or create or edit. Both can export objects that work with the Merge Cube.
Sketchfab (online) and PC, Mac, mobile (Android OS and IOS)
http://sketchfab.com
Tinkercad (online)
https://www.tinkercad.com/
Solar System Viewed with the Explorer
The Merge Cube is a handheld object so I wondered how it would be used in a group setting – assuming the audience will not be using a 3D viewer – the presenter is the only one ‘equipped’.
Since the software is installed on my laptop I found out, duh, that it would work using the built-in camera. With that in mind simply hooking up to a projection system allows the audience to see the 3D object. These two screen grab pictures were taken using both programs. The Solar System using the Explorer and HST with Object Viewer. A sort of downside is that your face is part of what is projected as well!!
Got a Webcam? I still have a couple of these and with a USB connection to my laptop or desktop PC the camera could be used to move around the cube rather then moving the cube in front of the camera. Not quite the same experience but it works!
This could also work if the presenter is wearing a VR type viewer, either goggles or the cellphone holder type, if it is connected directly to a projection system or to a projection system via a connected PC. With a cellphone this may be using something like Chromecast. Again the audience would see what the presenter sees, but by way of the video projection.
Further Questions??
Will the Merge Cube work if members of the audience all have 3D viewers but only the presenter is holding the cube?
Could they aim their respective cellphone toward the object and see it as 3D?
Is there a limiting distance between the camera and the merge cube?
IMHO:
Merge Cube with an Ipad tablet
First thing I noticed is that I needed 3 hands! You have to hold the cube in one hand and then manipulate the image on the screen with the other hand. Trying to hold the cube in the camera field of view while then using your fingers on the other hand to zoom in or out, select labels,etc. at least for me was a challenge. The picture shows a kiddo using a tablet which makes more sense than using a cellphone because the tablet is stationary while a cellphone may not be. I use a mini-tripod for holding my cellphone freeing up my hands for ‘cubeing’.
Individual Users
If a classroom already has 3D viewers like the Google Cardboard, or other makes, and assuming the kids have a cellphone with the App installed and each one has a Merge Cube then this could make for interesting learning experiences.
Activity plans are available for download and reading but the few I looked at seemed rather light and were things I would think any Teacher using the Merge Cube would have already thought of doing or asking.
To me the Merge Cube would be fun and engaging but I think the hologram technology is not quite ready for really good use in the classroom. What I am waiting for is a way to have a group experience where everyone wears a 3D Viewer and sees and hears an avatar, a graphic character or figure, representing each of the participants in the group. Imagine the field trip or classroom extension possibilities as you walk or swim along with your students or the audience.
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Early Saturday evening January 25th the 1.5-day young thin waxing crescent Moon will be about 1-2o from the innermost planet Mercury. Both are within about 15o, or about 1 hour, behind (to the east) from the Sun as this graphic shows. Local time for sunset is around 5:30 pm CST and the Moon and Mercury set approximately 1 hours later.
This is definitely a binocular viewing opportunity especially for trying to see a very young crescent Moon. The youngest observed Moon on record was seen by Stephen James O’Meara in May of 1990 when he saw a 15 hour 32 minute crescent Moon.
Thursday January 23rd the position of the planet Uranus with respect to the Earth and the Sun places this ringed planet at what is called eastern quadrature. Uranus is at a 90 degree angle from the Earth. Think first quarter Moon as that is a fair comparison of the relative positions of the Earth, the Sun, and Uranus – or any outer planet. At this position Uranus follows the Sun across the sky from east to west as the Earth is rotating, meaning that Uranus rises after the Sun and sets after the Sun.
With a 5.78 apparent magnitude Uranus is just bright enough to be seen with binoculars as perhaps a very small dot. In the graphic I have enlarged the planet to make it more easy to see. Uranus is at about the naked-eye limit of visibility (6th magnitude)so it would take extremely dark skies to see it without optical assistance. Off to the right and lower are the four stars making up the familiar “Square of Pegasus” asterism. 
