Shell Game

The prototype of this exhibit was developed by Denise King. I designed this version for the East Gallery at the Exploratorium. It's a Dichotomous key. The sound horn encourages an interaction with another person.

"A dichotomous key is a scientific tool used to identify and categorize different organisms or objects based on a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name or classification. This key operates on a simple principle: at each step, it presents two mutually exclusive characteristics and the user selects the one that matches the item in question, leading to the next pair of choices until the final identification is made.

The primary purpose of a dichotomous key is to simplify the identification process, making it accessible and systematic for both experts and novices in fields like biology, ecology, and education. It is especially useful in the study of biodiversity, where distinguishing between similar species can be challenging." - Danesh Ramuthi