The Human Race Machine, invented in 2000 by Artist Nancy Burson, has been experienced by 150,000 people worldwide. It celebrates diversity awareness.
The machine is used to teach observers that there is no gene for race; the DNA of any two humans is 99.97 percent identical. A person’s race is made up of a variety of inherited genes, including the melanin that determines color, the size of the eyes, nose, jawline, and face contours.
The machine works by snapping a photograph of the user’s face. Then the participant uses the machine’s joystick to embed a mark at the corner of each eye, the corners of the nose and lips, and the center of the chin. Then, as the user clicks on the various race options, the photograph is altered accordingly, depicting features that the participant would have if s/he were any of 5 other races.
The machine also has the ability to age a participant by about 20 years, and to show the face with a variety of medical deformities. In 1987, Burson sold the rights of the Age Machine (another of her inventions) to the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who have used it to help locate victims of kidnapping.
The Couples Machine (also invented by Burson) combines photographs of men and women in varying percentages to allow couples to view their potential offspring.
The Human Race Machine is accessible at the New York Hall of Science, American Visionary Art Museum, and The William Benton Museum of Art.
References
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/oct/16/human-race-machine-will-change-your-face/
http://cbs11tv.com/local/Human.Race.Machine.2.942904.html
http://www.nancyburson.com/pages/publicart_pages/hrmachine.html
http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-09-19/news/the-human-race-machine/1
http://www.wolfmanproductions.com/racemachine.html
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/egg/205/burson/index.html
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