Magic Lantern, 1646

For the past twenty five hundred years, individuals from every culture have been experimenting with the possiblities of capturing visual images; attempting to undertand the relationship between the mechanics of the human eye and the physical principles of light. In 1646 Arthanasius Kircher was the first to publicly demonstrate such a capture. Kircher projected images etched into a hilghly polished metal plates with bi-convex lenes, and used either a candle or sunlight as a light source. The Magic Lantern was the first successful attempt at projecting images onto a larger scale. The Magic Lantern would later create a great impact on the projection of images, eventually leading to slide shows and motion pictures, changing technology as well as the perspectives of individuals and the world around them.