Posted by
Glen MacDonald-2 on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/A-digital-microscope-for-kids-any-recommendations-tp7082751p7086775.html
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Hi John,
The Brock Magiscope mentioned by Nico is a nice durable design with good optics. The plastic light pipe is very clever, just point it at any light source. It works tolerably well for macro samples. The other approach for that age would be a simple dissecting scope. It can use a variety of light sources with a wider range of samples, and the boy's clever uncle could arrange to transilluminate thin specimens. Flexibility and durability are key at this age. Go for a better quality compound scope when he is older.
Regards,
Glen
Glen MacDonald
Core for Communication Research
Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center
Box 357923
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-7923 USA
(206) 616-4156
[hidden email]
On Dec 10, 2011, at 7:42 PM, John Oreopoulos wrote:
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy> *****
>
> Hello list server,
>
> This is not a confocal question, but I figure the people here might have some good experience with this. I have a 7-year old nephew who says he wants to find a cure cancer someday. I figure the best Christmas gift for him this year would therefore be a decent children's microscope. My problem is that there seems to be hundreds of different kids microscope brands, some with just eyepieces, some that can be interfaced to a computer via USB, etc. Does anyone here have any recommendations for one model brand over another?
>
> Ron Vale makes a good argument for having kids go straight to digital microscopes instead of using eyepieces (and many modern research grade microscopes don't require eyepieces either):
>
>
http://microscopy4kids.org/>
http://microscopy4kids.org/webpage/pages/whydiglookma.html>
> My only issue with this is that my nephew does not have access to a computer of his own. I think what would be better is a kids microscope that hooks up to a television screen directly, and these do exist. For example:
>
>
http://www.bonpal.com/product/usb-microscope/bp-m8200t.html> (no commercial interest)
>
> And the other great thing about a pocket TV microscope like that is that it has a built in LED light source. So, what do you think? This is isn't so different from when list server members ask for opinions on various confocal microscopes, is it? Commercial responses offline to me are welcome as well.
>
> Thanks, and a happy upcoming winter holiday to all confocalists out there!
>
>
> John Oreopoulos
> Research Assistant
> Spectral Applied Research
> Richmond Hill, Ontario
> Canada
> www.spectral.ca