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Portable
Planetariums Home
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More
than a Portable Planetarium
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FAQs
about Portable Planetariums
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What can be done with a Portable Planetarium? |
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A Portable Planetarium is destined to being portable educational environment for almost all topic sciences: from Astronomy to History, happening through Anthropology, Paleontology, Arts, etc. The "secret" are the Projection Cylinders and the Warp Videos. They are the "soul" of the equipment, since both can show and display the any science topics to teaching. This is a vital important point: we develop cylinders and warp videos according to the necessities that are arising in the "educative atmosphere". |
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| What is a Portable Planetarium? | |
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It is a portable display system, affordable, versatile, educational environment. It is ideal for significant educational activities, that can be presented in any covered space larger than 6 m wide and 3 m high -20x10 feet. Our Portable Planetarium Models are more than a common Portable Planetarium, because they can show in 360 degrees images of other sciences as paleontology, geology, history, with our Projection Cylinders or "Warp" Videos. |
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| What is the usual way with Portable Planetariums? | |
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Everybody knows that of our equipments or of competing companies, are used as Portable Planetariums. Originally they were created like such: but soon they derived in their use towards other science topics with great success. Also, is well known by all educator the strong interest between children and young people around the wolrd by two fundamental subjects: Astronomy and Paleontology. As first idea we can say: a successful business with Portable Planetariums will have to be based fundamentally on Astronomy and Dinosaurs. Certainly to this offer it will be necessary to add the more it could as topics related to the Human Evolution (topic much needed in all the schools around the world) or to the particular History of every country or the global or local Geography. |
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| Who can need a Portable Planetarium? | ||
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Entrepreneurs to start a profitable Travelling Business
offering a School Service.
2. Thematic Parks, Amusement Parks, Science Centers and Museums that want to add spectacular attractions. 3. Schools and other educational institutes that want to have own Educational Portable System.
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| What are the components | |
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Basically are the following: 1. Inflatable Dome 2. Fan/Turbine 3. Analogical Projector/Digital Projector or both 4. Projection Cylinders/"Warp" Videos or both |
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| Are there Different Options? | |
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Yes, you can do any combination with domes, projectors and cylinders. However, we have 3 pre-established combinations, that we have designed for the different necessities of our clients. All our Models include: Inflatable Dome, Projector, Projection Cylinders or Warp Videos, Luxury and Ultra Strong Travel Boxes and a very strong PVC carry-in handbag for the Dome. |
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| Is There a Waiting Time to Receive de Equipments? | |
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Of course not. We work under permanent stock condition and it is our big differences with others competitor companies. This is our compromise with the clients. |
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Projectors
for Portable Planetariums
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Our Sputnik and Vostok Analogic Projectors are the few in the world with 3 volt engines, to simulate the Earth rotation, which can change their rotation speed. Namely, like a great technological advantage, they can rotate to 1 revolution in 22 minutes to 1 revolution in 2 minutes and even taking any intermediate speed! Even they can change their polarities to change the rotation sense (hourly sense or anti hourly sense). That is the cutting edge in Portable Planetariums. Sputnik is a standard projector of cylinders. Vostok Projector can show alternatively 2 different cylinders, without break the "magic" into the dome changing them like than Buran. Vostok Projector was created on the basis of our classic Sputnik and both are compatibles with cylinders belong to others companies. Sputnik and Vostok can to project not only astronomy cylinders but other science cylinders too. Also, w e are introducing the new "Progress" System for Portable Planetariums. The Full Dome Projections Revolution has rised with a very competitive price in the educative market. Portable Planetariums Home has given one more time an affordable answer for customers. All our projectors are delivered with ultra strong and luxury travel boxes. These travel boxes transport them without risk of damages. |
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| Projection Cylinders |  |
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Cylinders are the "visual soul" of a Portable Planetarium show, since they cover many scientific and educational topics as diverse as anatomy, anthropology, astronomy, geology, history, literature, mythology, paleontology and more (almost there are not science curriculum that can not be represented in projection cylinders) with wonderful images projected in 360º inside the dome. We produce constantly new amazing cylinders. The interchangeable projection cylinders are made with impression films and built on acrylic supports. They have a big mechanical resistance to impacts and hard treatments. They are magnetically attached to the projectors. Our Projection Cylinders are provided into a ultra strong and luxury travel boxes, protected with argentine aluminium ALUAR.
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| What about the Domes? | |
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Our inflatable domes are constructed from a grey-silvered plastic fabric of exceptional strength and durability. In addition, the domes are provided with strong PVC travel case. Both Domes, Narod and Narod -T, have a diameter of 4,8 meters and a height of 3 meters. How safe are our Domes? Our domes have the following safety features: 1.
Anti - Flame & blackout fabric Our dome's fabric provides a nearly complete "black-out" (99.8% of opacity to the solar light), flame retardant (flame autostinguis to retire the Vc = 75 mm / 30 seg-). 2.
Access to turbine blocked This is an added feature developed by our Company to insure the safety of all participants, especially children. 3.
Air circulation Pipes Both domes have one air entrance pipe from the turbine for inflation and another pipe for exhaust air, allowing a constant circulation of fresh air. 4.
For safe and quick exit, the domes have no floors. If for some reason, the electricity fails in the building in which a presentation is taking place, a quick exit of the dome is easy and safe since there is no floor. |
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| What about "Packaging"? |  |
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Our equipments are provided with ultra strong and luxurious travel boxes, protected with profiles Argentine Aluminium from ALUAR, and high thickness polyurethane foams, which allow them to travel without damages.
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| Why we have so affordable prices? | |
| Because they are made in Argentina very favorable to the exportation and, because our profit is not excessive. We want to win on the world market with the lowest price and the best quality. At the moment, we are the best option. They are a high quality and low-cost Portable Planetariums. Until now, all portable teaching systems have been too expensive for developing countries and even in USA, Canada, Europe and in Japan. We have seen the frustration experienced by who cannot afford high priced educational systems. We have given to the market great high quality products with lowest international price, taking in mind our long experience working with portable planetariums in Argentine, Chile, Panama, Puerto Rico and Dominica Republic. | |
| Choosing a Presentation Programme: the next step | |
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Every buyer will have to make an evaluation of the local interests to offer a services y agree with the client requirements: The clients, obviously will be the educators, who are our primary client. We
recommend especially the consultation of the educational
plans of every country and region. Once determined the
sciences topics to offering with a portable planetarium,
you must decide the presentation method (pre-recorded
or in alive) and chose the personnel, write the Presentation
Programme. We can offer a free basic programme that for experience that it is needed in almost schools around the planet and, that we have verified it is successful. On the base of this programme multiple attachs, adjustments and modifications can do. Take in mind that in topic, for example, "Orientation with the Stars" or "Constellations " can be valid for all the educational levels, any time they are presented in agree with the educational age. A Basic Contents for Portable Planetarium Programme (for all educational levels) 1.
Orientation With the Stars |
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| Consultating of National Educational Plans in each Country |
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We
think every client must adapt the presentations at the
national educational plan in his/her country. We believe
firmly : the best is to see the national educational
plan, before to implement any show in a Travelling Business
with Portable Planetariums You should not forget that the key of the business with Portable Planetariums takes root in the work that you do with these in the schools. |
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Actual tendencies in Portable Planetariums Travelling Business |
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There are two clear tendencies: 1) Pre-Recorded Presentations 2) "Live" Presentations Both tendencies have points to favor and points in against. Nevertheless, our 12 years experience in Traveling Business with Portable Planetariums leads us to inclining for the second option, since we have observed a better operative results. Though the prerecorded functions avoid the errors and the weariness of the human operator and allow "more spectacular" presentations from the Audio-Visual point of view, the second ones allow a better didactic adjustment, contemplating the diverse evolutionary grade and of knowledge of the students. Besides this way contemplates the "participation" possibility of the students, so important for the learning. Didactically speaking a "live" presentation is better than a pre-recorded, though the last one could be better than a "live" presentation from the audio-visual point of view. Probably the best, is a reasonable miscellany between both systems: to have ready in reserve pre-recorded presentations when the human operator give symptoms of weariness, for example. |
| Operative Suggestions | |
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1- Timming: In
any of two previous cases, we suggest the presentations
should be on 30 minutes base and on the "basic
common contents" of the Learning Plan created Also,
we suggest do not the above mentioned presentations
in a long and boring "exhibitions of information
and knowledge ". It is very important to understand
that we consider the didactic fundamental concept: Fundamental Principle of the Didactic " The key in the education takes root in the grade of participation of the pupils. Conferences and Exhibitions only serve as informative way for adult and very specialized personnel. The Pupisl shouldtake part continuously in a class in order that the educational process is real, lasting and do not transform in a mere informative act ". 3- Quantity of Educational Contents in a Presentation: It is suggested to continue the same procedure as a school teachear: not more than two contents or three in a presnetation.. The idea is: do not tire to the public with a "conference of astronomy", a "complete astronomy class" or something like it. 4- Using the portable planetarium as a "Didactical Starter": It allows to the teacher to develop and to illustrate related topics, which will be continued by himself after portable planetarium activity in the school. It
is not a way to do a demonstration of an "encyclopedia",
but of creating a funny presentation, educating and
bringing entertainement.. 5- Other Criterias: Another criteria with portable planetariums is: use them as an audio-visual synthesis of the knowledge given in the classroom. Also in case of schools that possess access it continued, is possible to use them for a great variety of curriculuar topics. A dome in the dark is an amazing and charming environment for spectators of any age. The educational ambience that a Dome generate do easy the quick learning and it is an unforgettable experience. d.
Choosing Portable Planetarium Operators We
suggest strongly: the operators should be teachers for
primary schools and teachers for high schools, universities
or general public. Remember this "Golden Maxim", with which you will have a successful travelling business: "More
important than the audio-visual deployment, and the
extraordinary quality that could have an educational
equipment, is the didactic quality of the human opetaror" To manage a portable planetarium is needed as minimum a person: the operator. But the ideal are two persons. A person will be operating on the equipment, while the other will remain out during the presentation as reinsurance in case of a power-down (to raise the dome and to collaborate with the operator) or to prevent the children who are near the dome. Asimismo, es recomendable, que ambas personas estén entrenadas para dar funciones, tanto sean pregrabadas como en vivo. Si son en vivo pueden ir alternándose una vez cada una para no agotarse. El sistema de dos operadores ha dado excelente resultados en toda Latinoamérica. Likewise,
it is advisable, that both persons are trained to give
functions, so much they are pre-recorded or "live".
If they are in "live" they can go alternatening
once each one not to become exhausted. The system of
two operators has given excellent results in the whole
Latinamerica. f. Organization and Quantity of Presentations First Case: with schools A traveling Business with our Portable Planetariums can to attend efficiently between 600-700 students per day (in 8 hours, taking in account 6 presentations of 1/2 hours in the morning and 6 in the afternoon). Obviously, this scheme is depending on the educational organization of every country. Considering
10 to 12 daily presentations, we would have an average
of 600-700 pupils who can be attended by day. Though,
nevertheless, records of attention have been registered
of up to 2,400 persons (in Argentina) in a single day!,
in a marathon of 18 consecutive hours presentations. Between
every presentation is convenient to consider 15 minutes
that is the average time necessary to drive-out the
spectators (of the previous presentation) and to rive-in
(of the next presentation). Likewise, this time allows
the operator to check the equipment and to carry out
minimal tasks of cleanliness of the dome and even to
take some rest. The above mentioned is especially necessary in the case of a "live" presentations. |
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We
should t not exhaust unnecessarily the operators, since
they will who assure a qualityservice. In case of "pre-recorded"
presentations this time is necessary also to place all
the system in "on" again. Second Case: Museums and Science Parks Here
we have a different case. Basically because the assistants
do not come in groups previously formed like in the
schools case, where the assistants are organized by
the teachers. In the school people come ramdomly.. About
such a case it is convenient to organize presentations
with schedule pre-arranged and previously announced
in a publicity board. g. The Public in a Dome The
public should be accommodated in concentric round starting
from the door up to completing the first circle and
then establishing the following concentric round. The
public will have to sit down with the soil with the
crossed legs " to the Indian thing ", as in
the camps about the fire. Hereby comfortably 80 children
will be able to stay from 6 to 9 years or 35-40 adults. h. Time of Exhibition Twelve years of experience in the operation of portable planetariums indicate us that ideal time of a presentation from the pedagogic point of view, is 35-40 minutes. |
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| Synthesis of the Suggestions | |
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1. To consult the plans of study for every educational level in every region of the country where the educational portble service will be implemented. 2. To evaluate all ways: pre-recorded, "live" presentations or both 3. As Portable Planetarium Makers, we recommend training school teachers for "live" presentations, since we think: didactic results in a better service. |
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