By using high speed strobe lights blinking 80 times a second, your eyes cannot even see that they are blinking - the light looks continuous.


By synchronizing the strobes to the high-speed vibration of objects (created with the magnets and central electromagnet), we create the visual illusion of those objects moving in slow motion. This is a phenomenon called persistence of vision, and works similarly to the way a TV works - by flickering frozen images quickly enough that we perceive them as continuous motion. By varying the timing of the strobelights, the different animations are created - but the actual motion is always the same.

Incredibly quiet. The loudest thing is the object itself moving through the air, and the magnets can be adjusted to change the 'volume' of movement, so if you make the movement very large, it will create more noise. We can't hear a feather from 10 feet away in a quiet room. For the techies out there, we estimate it's around 30dB.

And yes! Please touch it! If you touch the objects you will feel the secret that your eyes cannot see - that they are vibrating very quickly (80 times back and forth every second). It's a fun way to discover the illusion. The electromagnet is totally safe to touch as it is all at very low voltage and strength. It's fun for all ages.

Since the slow motion effect depends on vibrating objects very quickly, light objects that vibrate repeatedly work the best. So far I've found the best things are feathers, plants, and flowers. That said, I've also seen custom origami, bent wire, even googly eyes(!) in the mix, and look forward to many more surprises!

I think it's useful to think of Slow Dance like a vase — you don't expect the things in it to last forever, but you intend to highlight their temporary existence. I've found feathers work indefinitely, plants depend greatly on the type (some dry out and get brittle, others seem to work for weeks), and most flowers last for the day, if that.

Given that the effect is based on strobe lights embedded in the frame, when there is sufficient ambient light (like sunlight), the effect is greatly weakened. With the included brightness control on full, we've found it works for most indoor environments (even a few feet from the window), but when it's up against the window or outside in daylight, the effect is harder to notice.

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By using the product, Purchaser agrees to the terms of this limited warranty. Wonder Machines warrants that the product will be free from manufacturer defects in materials or workmanship for a period 1 year from the date of purchase. Purchaser's sole remedy for Wonder Machines' breach of this warranty is, at Wonder Machines' sole option, either repair or replacement of the product. To exercise this remedy, the purchaser must notify Wonder Machines within thirty (30) days of the expiration of the warranty period.

The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts govern this limited warranty; provided, however, that if, despite such choice of law provision, the laws of purchaser's jurisdiction require a longer warranty period, such longer period shall apply. EXCEPT FOR THE FOREGOING LIMITED WARRANTY, THE PRODUCT IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" AND "WITH ALL FAULTS," AND WONDER MACHINES HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.