Prisma 1666 Installation Turns Interactive Inputs Into Reflective Outputs

Humans have long been fascinated with the natural phenomenon that is refracted light—from the first scientists working with optics, to school children being taught the colors of the rainbow with a glass prism—it’s a seemingly magical effect that has been manipulated by artists and scientists for ages. Now the prism gets a digital makeover with the project Prisma 1666, developed by two Shanghai-based multimedia and interactive design firms Super Nature and Wonwei for the Shanghai International Science and Art Exhibition 2011.

The project consists of 15 prisms, two projectors and a touch screen for user interaction. The viewer uses the touch tablet to control the color, angle, and shapes projected on each prism, exploring the full range of a prism’s refraction properties and triggering beautiful and unexpected reflections. If only we had this installation to play around with in our grade school science class, perhaps we would’ve stayed awake.

Take a look at the stunning visuals produced in the slideshow above.