Libraray+of+Imagination

=﻿Welcome to my Library of Imagination!=

__The Museum Building:__
 * [[image:432279:museum.jpg width="321" height="318" caption="This is Imagination Tower"]] ||
 * This is Imagination Tower ||

The building that houses my library of imagination, known as __Imagination Tower__, represents an idea that has been around for thousands of years: the bigger, the better. In every age someone would build the biggest thing possible in their time, and if it was already built then they would try to make a bigger thing possible. This lead to many advances in architecture, and as a result astonishingly high building are commonplace in most large cities. The size of Imagination Tower is proof of how a little idea can lead to great advances that eventually result in a positive contribution to humanity, in this case saving lots of space. The tower also means that we can organize Items in chronological order, starting at the bottom and going up. This reflects how the imagination needs something to build on in order to reach new heights. The "floating" wing of Imagination Tower (that bit sticking off to the side) isn't really practical and it doesn't look particularly nice, so why is it there? Most importantly, it represent one of the main reasons that people attempt difficult feats, whether in architecture, art or anything else, a simple yet powerful drive: people do things //because they can.// This is probably because the human imagination is not satisfied with theoretical proof of the ability to do something when physical proof is possible. The floating wing also represents the power and persistence of the imagination, without which people would have given up on trying to build things like this irregular piece of architecture. The giant flag hanging near the top of the tower not only expresses pride in our country, but also represents symbolism. Symbolism is central to all art. In fact, almost all art is a form of symbolism. Since art is almost //the// embodiment imagination, symbolism is a concept that must be included in a library of imagination. The dome atop Imagination Tower is a 3D Omnimax theatre. Hundreds of years ago the concept of a moving picture would have seemed ludicrous, yet now humungous three-dimensional moving pictures with sophisticated accompanying sound systems are reality. This is the power of the human imagination. The dome is also covered in solar panels, partially powering the building. These solar panels also represent the way that the human imagination can be used to solve a problem, such as the problem of finding a renewable energy source. Inside the museum is a maze of hallways with lots of glass and mirrors. This requires visitors to use their imagination to find their way through the building. It also represents the way that the human imagination overcomes obstacles and gaoes in many different directions before arriving at an idea. In terms of practicality, Imagination Tower is a perfect home to the library of imagination. The great hight saves lots of space, and offers an inspiring view from the top floors. The 3D Omnimax theatre is perfect for showing informative movies and generating some revenue from concession sales. The building saves money on power by generating solar electricity. The floating wing is a useful helipad, and also makes the building unique and recognizable. This means that postcards showing Imagination Tower can also generate a bit of revenue. The maze inside may not be practical, but if the lobby gives out free maps, it shouldn't be a problem, plus everyone will get a free souvenir.

__Exhibits in our museum:__

__1 - The Stone Age Room:__


 * [[image:432279:stone_age_room.jpg width="384" height="240" caption="This room (on the ground floor) displays stone age armor and pottery."]] ||
 * This room (on the ground floor) displays stone age armor and pottery. ||

The pottery in this room shows that things made thousands of years ago by ancient humans are still covered in simple yet beautiful designs. This is proof of how the imagination has been the same for thousands of years. The complex stone age armor displayed here shows that humans were just as intelligent thousands of years ago as they are now, and even with limited materials could create protective, yet flexible armor. In fact, the system of interlocking stone squares shown here is in some ways more complicated than armor of the middle ages.

__2 - The Globe Room__:


 * [[image:432279:globe_room.jpg width="384" height="240" caption="This third floor exhibit contains a globe and a shelf of historical cartography (behind viewpoint)"]] ||
 * This third floor exhibit contains a globe and a shelf of historical cartography (behind viewpoint) ||

This room embodies one of the most outrageous, yet true, ideas that any human has ever been able to grasp. This is the fact of the earth's curvature. The earth seems entirely flat, and if it were round people should fall off. Therefore, it took great imagination for the idea of a round earth to even enter someone's head, and even more to prove it. The shelf behind the viewpoint of the camera contains everything from ancient greek scrolls proving that the earth is round to photos of the earth taken from the moon. The globe symbolizes the idea of a round earth.

__3 - The Non-Human Intelligence Room:__


 * [[image:432279:UFO_room.jpg width="384" height="240" caption="Is this evidence real? decide for yourself!"]] ||
 * Is this evidence real? decide for yourself! ||

Despite the fact that there is no strong evidence to suggest fairies, aliens, or other non-human intelligent life, many people still believe in it. This shows how imaginations all throughout history have felt alone on this planet, with only other humans to talk to. It also shows that the human imagination will work hard to prove that anything it wants to be true is true, even if it isn't. This room contains some evidence, which may or may not be genuine, that suggests extra-terrestrial life.

__4 - The Cantaloupe Room:__


 * [[image:432279:Canteloupe.jpg width="384" height="240" caption="Yup, that's a cantaloupe alright."]] ||
 * Yup, that's a cantaloupe alright. ||

This room contains a cantaloupe. A cantaloupe may seem to have no relevance to the human imagination, but the fact of its irrelevance is why it is relevant. Without imagination, categories or themes cannot exist, and as such irrelevance cannot exist. This cantaloupe is proof of both the ability to classify things and the ability to make difficult connections, such as finding relevance out of irrelevance.

__5 - Stone boat:__


 * [[image:432279:IMGP5515.JPG width="351" height="318" caption="This particular stone boat is in Beijing."]] ||
 * This particular stone boat is in Beijing. ||

Rock is one of the materials most known for sinking. However, the enterprising human imagination has actually managed to construct boats from stone, which is a testament to the way the human imagination forgets about what is "impossible" and does it anyways. Obviously the museum cannot fit a real stone boat, but there is a library containing, among other things, photos and schematics of stone boats.

__6 - The Glass Bottomed Room:__


 * [[image:432279:glass_room_.jpg width="384" height="240" caption="Many people would rather not cross this glass floor, for fear of ... fear."]] ||
 * Many people would rather not cross this glass floor, for fear of ... fear. ||

This room gives the impression of flying above the city, about to fall at any moment. This will induce in many people a fear of heights. Fear is meant to warn us when something is unsafe, but like many other bodily safety systems it can often work against us by telling us we are in danger when we aren't. This room represents irrational fear and how the imagination has downsides.

__7 - The Aviation Room:__



This room contains posters and models illustrating the history of human flight. Centuries ago it was an accepted fact that humans could never fly, yet now people can fly to see relatives or a take an overseas vacation without unreasonable expense. People can even go into space for only a few hundred thousand dollars. Aviation is similar to the stone boat in that it represents how the human imagination can accomplish impossible tasks.

__8 - The Old Radio Room:__


 * [[image:432279:Radio_Room.jpg width="384" height="240" caption="Look at the size of that thing! "]] ||
 * Look at the size of that thing! ||

This room represents the evolution of technology. Electronic & electric devices, like radios, used to be extremely bulky and not very functional, but worked never the less. Still, people worked radios them and improved them until they could be carried in a pocket, with much clearer sound and more functions. This represents how the human imagination values improving existing technology almost as highly as inventing new technology.

__The Technology Room:__


 * [[image:432279:Techroom.jpg width="384" height="240" caption="Guests can visit wbsites on the computer (and you can too - co on, click it!)" link="http://www.apple.com/iphone/"]] ||
 * Guests can visit wbsites on the computer (and you can too - co on, click it!) ||

This room contains links to the websites of products that the Museum recognizes as examples of imagination. The main two are the following.

__9 - Mindstorms NXT:__ Robots were once a fanciful idea, but now any child can make their own robot out of Lego. This represents how the human imagination is enterprising enough to make some of the most advanced technology of the time available to everyone, including children [|NXT Website]  __10 - iPhone 4:__ The Iphone is something that no one even a hundred years ago could have imagined. Lots of new hardware and software and at least two new materials were developed for the iPhone 4. This represents the lengths that the imagination will go to to make something that people don't actually need. This also represents how something seemingly impossible can come about relatively quickly (at least compared to how long some inventions took from conception to completion). The link to the iPhone website is in the above picture.  __Museum Rules:__

The Library of Human Imagination tries to allow interaction with the exhibits whenever possible. However, due to the fragile nature of some exhibits, touching and photography must be prohibited. Fragile exhibits are clearly marked and rigged with alarms. Besides the exhibits shown above, there are many more, interactive, exhibits.

__Other:__

City background photo from photoeverywhere.com Other photos from Wikimedia Commons and own photo library.

All images are available under the GNU free usage licence (Basically, you can do whatever you want with them as long as you make them available under the same licence. Look it up.)   **__Imagination Items:__**  Out of all the items that I could have chosen, I believe these three exibit great imagination. The first item is Leonardo di Vinci's notebook. Di Vinci's notebook is full of ideas that, were esentially, based off of the next generation. His ideas were things that, people in that time, would have never dreamed of. This shows how advanced Leonardo's imagination was. Second, is the wheel. This simple circle made tasks, such as moving goods, easy. This is an example of how the human imagination can be used to make life easier. Finally, I chose a blob of clay. A blob of clay doesn't seem very imaginative does it? But it's the fact that you can mold it into whatever you like that makes it imaginative. In order for clay to become a masterpiece, imagination must be put into it. Therefore, a blob of clay itself is not very creadtive, it's what you do to it that makes it an example of imagnation. There are many other items that show vast imagination, but I think that these three have a unique meaning of it.