How wearable technology is changing the way paleontologists document rare fossil discoveries
In short: Aki Watanabe, a doctoral student at the American Museum of Natural History, uses Google Glass to provide a first-person perspective on the delicate work of fossil preparation. This video follows preparator Ana Balcarcel as she demonstrates the meticulous process of cleaning and restoring ancient bones and teeth.
When fossils are recovered from the field, they arrive encased in plaster jackets and the surrounding rock matrix. The fossil preparation process involves carefully removing this material to restore the specimens to their original state. This demonstration highlights the intersection of modern wearable technology and traditional laboratory techniques used in comparative biology.
Aki Watanabe, a student in the Richard Gilder Graduate School, was selected as a beta-tester for Google Glass. This episode is part of a series documenting his experiences using the device in various settings, from the Gobi Desert to the museum's specialized research facilities, including the Big Bone Room.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Google Glass With Aki Watanabe: Fossil Prep Lab
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