The displays in the Bioshelter itself might be in occasional booths, in which the interested observer could hunker down to interact with the real data, or with simulated data based on DaisyWorld models, following the work of James Lovelock [3]. But in the proposed new South Transept, a transparent 3D aerial view of the Bioshelter, including a few of the most intuitive parameters (temperature, carbon dioxide) would be on view in the animated stained glass window. Two schemes for the realization of this dream have been discussed: the schlieren scheme, and the LCD scheme.
   Color Schlieren optical system. This technique requires a huge beam of parallel light rays, such as sunlight through a window. The beam passes through the atmosphere (of the Bioshelter, for example) and then falls on an equally huge parabolic mirror (which could be segmental, like that of the Keck observatory on Mauna Koa). The beam is focused in a point, at which a small, color filter is placed in the optical path. At a distance of one focal length, the beam is projected on a screen, or on the wall. Here, a colored image is formed, revealing the rarefactions of the atmosphere due to temperature fluctuations, or sound vibrations. If infrared light is used, a shadowgraph of carbon dioxide absorbtion would be revealed.
   Color Schlieren optical systemIn these days of computer revolution, we have seen brilliant displays of color computer graphics from an ordinary overhead projector. The secret is a miniature "animated stained glass window," an active-matrix liquid- crystal display (LCD). Almost one square foot in area, these respond rapidly to a computer-generated color image, and can follow simple animations at video speeds. We would simply use about 800 of these as panes in a large window. Massively parallel supercomputer technology would enable their simultaneous control by the computer monitoring the data in the Bioshelter.

8. Next steps

The further advance of the Bioshelter dream requires another meeting of the Fellowship, and a commisioned plan for a small model of the Shelter and monitor system. This small pilot project could be undertaken by a Science Museum, government institute, or private enterprise such as Biosphere II, or DisneyLand.