title: Software Framework for Controlling Unsupervised Scientific Instruments.
abstract: Science outreach and communication are gaining more and more importance for conveying the meaning of today's research to the general public. Public exhibitions of scientific instruments can provide hands-on experience with technical advances and their applications in the life sciences. The software of such devices, however, is oftentimes not appropriate for this purpose. In this study, we describe a software framework and the necessary computer configuration that is well suited for exposing a complex self-built and software-controlled instrument such as a microscope to laymen under limited supervision, e.g. in museums or schools. We identify several aspects that must be met by such software, and we describe a design that can simultaneously be used to control either (i) a fully functional instrument in a robust and fail-safe manner, (ii) an instrument that has low-cost or only partially working hardware attached for illustration purposes or (iii) a completely virtual instrument without hardware attached. We describe how to assess the educational success of such a device, how to monitor its operation and how to facilitate its maintenance. The introduced concepts are illustrated using our software to control eduSPIM, a fluorescent light sheet microscope that we are currently exhibiting in a technical museum.
authors: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.|Optical Imaging Centre Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Schmid
authors: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors: Wiebke
authors: W
authors: Jahr
authors: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.|Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States of America.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Weber
authors: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.|Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States of America.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Huisken
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers; D004867:Equipment Design; D020407:Internet; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface