There are many great things that you can use to interest your children in science, and one of the great tools that were recently invented for that exact purpose is the USB microscope. This is a great tool that allows you to use your microscope to see any number of things and project the images directly to your computer.
The use of the USB Microscope is actually incredibly easy, and by following the few steps outlined below you can start using your USB Microscope to start looking at microbes, bacteria, dust mites, and other tiny objects that are guaranteed to get your children interested in science.
Step 1:
The first and most obvious step is to remove the USB microscope from the packaging, though be sure to do so carefully. There are a few items that you will find inside the box, such as the CD that comes with the software to install in order to be able to use the USB microscope. You will also find instructions on how to install, connect and use the microscope in case you can't figure it out.
Step 2:
Insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive in your computer, and give it a moment to load. The software should automatically run from the CD, and should open the window that will allow you to install the program. Run the installation program, and let the setup guide you through the process of installing the software onto the hard disk of your computer. It should take a matter of minutes to finish the entire setup process, after which your computer will have the software ready to run the USB Microscope.
Step 3:
Take the USB cable that is connected to the microscope and plug it into any available USB port. You will usually find these on the side or back of your computer, or you can often find one on the back of the latest television sets. You can choose to run the microscope directly to your TV, but your options will be limited. Using the computer to run it will ensure that you can utilize the software you installed, which allows you to do a number of things with your USB microscope.
Step 4:
Once you have plugged the USB microscope into the computer, it should turn on. You can put anything you want under the lens of the microscope. The lens can magnify objects up to 400 times their original size, and the 2-megapixel lens will display the images clearly on the computer screen. Show your children anything you want in the magnification of the microscope from carpet fibers to your hair and from your fingernail to your dog's saliva. There is no limit to the things that you can see in the USB microscope, and you can carry it around the house with your laptop to see the tiny particles that create the items around your house. This is the part where the children will want to start putting everything under the microscope to see how it is made, and you should encourage their scientific curiosity.
Step 5:
As you point the microscope at the different items around your house, they will be displayed on the screen of your computer. The software allows you to freeze the image you are looking at, or to save it to your computer at the click of a button. Simply click on the "Save" button that will appear at the top corner of your computer's screen, and the computer will store the image in the assigned place on your hard drive. You can open the pictures later in order to look them over at your pleasure, and you can print them out and send them with your child to school to impress his friends.
Step 6:
If you want to see images that are moving, the software that comes with the USB microscope has a video feature that allows you to capture moving pictures of what you are seeing under the microscope. This is especially great when looking at tiny creatures like lice or dust mites, as it allows the children to see these creatures move.
There really is no limit to what you can do with your children and the USB microscope, and you can get your kids hooked on science by doing experiments with their new gadget.
