Pivot Interactives introduces a revolutionary new technology: Iris™. Iris™ is a family of color- and light-based measuring tools that allow quantitative measurements directly from information encoded in a video within a web browser. This means that Pivot Interactives's interactive measurement tools can now include light- and color-based measurements. Some examples of how this can be used are:
temperature measurements from a video recorded with an infrared camera,
light transmittance measurements for colorimetry or absorption spectroscopy,
color-based pH measurements using indicators,
population density measurements for microbial organisms (algae, yeast),
fluorescence measurements to determine biological processes, such as enzyme activity, or
turbidity measurements for studies of water quality.
This can be used both for videos that are part of Pivot Interactives collection of pre-made interactive videos, but also for videos uploaded by students into the Pivot Interactives platform. For example, students can upload a video of a chemical reaction such as the decomposition of crystal violet by sodium hydroxide, and measure the changes in concentration as a function of time to learn about reaction kinetics. Normally, this analysis would require the use of a specialized spectrometer or colorimeter. Surprisingly, the resolution available from the Iris™ colorimeter is even greater than some colorimeters available for classroom use.
Iris™ technology helps Pivot Interactives further it's mission of enabling phenomena-based active learning for students everywhere. With Iris™ students can explore and investigate using straightforward tools to make sophisticated measurements previously unavailable in classrooms. Phenomena far beyond the wall of the classroom are within easy reach: energy flow within systems, population dynamics, and chemical and biological process. With Iris™, a whole new realm of science becomes instantly available.
Here is an example. The Iris™ temperature tool is being used to measure the rate of energy transfer along three bars: steel, aluminum, and copper. Students can make precise measurements of the temperature, and the amount of energy transferred by each material. Using the Iris™ temperature tool, students can explore and discover for themselves in just minutes what properties affect the energy transferred by different materials. This is an example of how Pivot Interactives Iris™ enables engaging, effective science instruction.