Host the microPlastics DJ
A self-running station where any visitor can walk up, touch a plastic sample or tap a screen, and instantly hear what microplastics sound like. Built to run on a museum floor, in a library, or at a festival, with or without a facilitator standing there.
- Zero on-ramp. Touch equals sound. No reading required to start.
- No login, no internet. The browser opens, the tool runs, the kiosk works for years.
- Self-resetting. Idle states loop visually to attract walk-bys.
- Durable. No plugins, no accounts. Refresh the page if anything goes odd.
- It scales. One device or six, the same setup.
A touchscreen, tablet, or laptop with a touch monitor, plus speakers. Open the tool in fullscreen, set the device to never sleep, tape the signage at eye level. Visitors touch a plastic on screen and hear it.
Add a Makey Makey board and real plastic samples (a PET bottle, a PE bag, a PP cap, a PS cup) wired to the W, A, S, D inputs. Visitors complete the circuit by touching a ground pad and a plastic at the same time, and become the DJ with their hands. This is the original Portal to the Public live-event build.
Full build and wiring guide →Guide discovery, do not lecture.
A docent does not sit at the kiosk. They roam, watch, and step in when invited. Welcome warmly, let visitors explore first, and ask open questions before explaining anything: "what do you notice?" and "why do you think they sound different?"
"Each of these plastics has a unique molecular fingerprint, like a song. The sounds you are hearing are real measurements from a real lab. Want to see how scientists actually do it?"
- Welcome warmly
- Let them explore first
- Ask open questions before explaining
- Share your own science story when they ask
- Lecture or open with a data dump
- Correct visitors who are exploring
- Be afraid of "I don't know" (connect them to a teammate who does)
A print-ready signage pack travels with the station. If your budget covers only three signs, prioritize the main banner, the four plastic-type labels, and one research-journey step.
Setup and event photos are being added here, drawn from real installations of the station. [Photos and captions in progress.]
Tap a plastic, hear sound. Check the volume from six feet away. Confirm any Makey Makey clips are attached and the signs are up.
Refresh the page and retest in case the browser auto-updated. Dust the screen and samples. Replace any damaged plastic samples.
Confirm a backup device is available and spare Makey Makey cables are in storage.
Mount the screen reachable from a seated position. Label samples in print and braille where possible. Sound carries the experience, so it works without sight, and printed signage explains each sound for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing. The tool supports keyboard navigation, screen readers, reduced motion, and a light or dark theme.