“Tangible Interfaces for Structural Molecular Biology”

This 5 minute video demonstrates the production and utilization of autofabricated (“Solid prints”) molecular models in an augmented reality environment. It gives brief overview of the hardware and software components that go into the system, and shows several examples of it use as a tangible interface for education and research in molecular biology.

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“Self Assembling Virus Model”

This 40 second video shows a self assembling physical virus model, which is produced on a 3D printer. Shaking the components in a bottle produces a complete spherical viral capsid.

(2.9 MB)

“Folding up HIV Protease”

This minute long video shows how a physical, articulated model of the polypeptide backbone of the protein found in the AIDS virus can fold up from a linear chain into the complex three-dimensional shape of a working enzyme.
The resulting model demonstrates the flexibility of the protein.

“Flexible polypeptide”

A flexible polypeptide model is assembled and aumented.

“Flexible DNA”

Helical parameters and bending of a model of DNA is controlled by augmented reality manipulation.

“Paper model”

Folded paper model of a virus capsid (poliovirus) augmented with symmetrical capsid assembly.

“DNA origami”

An origami model of DNA is augmented with DNA and transcription factor structures, and examined with augmented reality magic lens.

“DataFlashlight projects”

Using augmented reality we project electrostatic coloring on a physical model of the protein Superoxide Dismutase. This is an early prototype of the concept. With the advent of hand-held projectors and video tracking it is now possible to annotate physical models of proteins and other molecules with a variety of information that can be changed at will.