A new exhibition in London is giving visitors an opportunity to see their faces in a new dimension.
The London Science Museum has launched ‘The Me in 3D’ stand in conjunction with Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Visitors can take part by having their faces scanned in the stand – from there, participants will also have the option to render their 3D faces in different prints and patterns, such as zebra print and crocodile skin.
“It’s a very simple process using simultaneous photography by nine cameras and then some software modification to produce a 3D image,” senior craniofacial fellow at Great Ormond Street Hospital Dr Chris Abela explained.
“Any visitor to the stand will be able to spin their image around, look at themselves from behind their ear, or from the worm’s eye view as we call it, and really see themselves in another dimension.”
Data collected from the experiment will be used to help further research and provide better treatments and surgeries for patients.
“We know a lot about the bones in our faces but little is known about what makes our face the shape it is and about the skin and muscles that make up our face,” Dr Abela said.
“By collecting as many 3D face photographs as we can we will have a greater understanding of our complex faces, and have greater knowledge to plan and perform the best facial surgery in the future.”
Museum officials are hoping that by presenting visitors with a fun experiment, it will encourage them to participate in science and get involved.
“We see this as part of or work as a museum not only to have visitors looking at exhibits but to actually be part of real scientific research,” Science Museum staff member Priya Umachandran said. “It’s another great way of engaging the public with science.”
‘Me in 3D’ runs until 10 April
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16549098
