Species

In the Optical Machine Taxonomy I use three levels to cluster optical machines into groups. The most general is family (e.g. Boîtes Dioramiques). Families can contain more than one genus (e.g. polyoramas panoptiques and Lefort Boîtes). The smallest and most specific category is the species.

 

These are ongoing notes to document how I am determining species boundaries.

 

Optical machines of the same species can vary in minor, mostly aesthetic ways but are otherwise identical in form, dimensions, materials of construction, design and function.

 

Features that can vary with species:

• Colour or decoration
• Species of wood used
• ...

 

Features that can differentiate species:

• Image-plate size
• Number of lenses
• Decoration that significantly affects form: e.g. turned vs rectilinear elements
• Differences in the dominant material of construction: e.g. wood vs cardboard vs steel
• A significant design innovation: e.g. a pulley system vs a rigid wire to synchronize illumination flaps
• ...

Endnotes: