Adapting the OpenRelativity toolkit to multi-perspective dome projection

Abstract

This thesis investigates the combination of a full-dome planetarium experience with the intuitive explanations and visuals of the OpenRelativity game engine. From its inception, OpenRelativity was meant as a toolkit to produce many learning experiences, and this thesis represents the latest attempt to port that experience to a new medium. The increased immersion, direction, and captive time of an audience in the planetarium dome is shown to be a powerful tool for engaging participants with complex material. This thesis presents the background of teaching special relativity and the difficulties of engaging students with this material. The experience designed for the Boston Museum of Science, "Einstein's Playground," is discussed in both technical and design terms. This thesis also provides suggestions for how best to engage audience members with the material and the effectiveness of the full-dome experience combined with the strange and powerful effects of special relativity.