Tower viewer
Encyclopedia
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
or binoculars
Binoculars
Binoculars, field glasses or binocular telescopes are a pair of identical or mirror-symmetrical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes when viewing distant objects...
permanently mounted on a stalk. The device magnifies objects seen through its lenses, allowing users to see farther and more clearly than they could with the naked eye
Naked eye
The naked eye is a figure of speech referring to human visual perception unaided by a magnifying or light-collecting optical device, such as a telescope or microscope. Vision corrected to normal acuity using corrective lenses is considered "naked"...
or with less powerful viewing devices. Tower viewers are typically metallic and most swivel horizontally and vertically (within given axes of rotation
Rotation
A rotation is a circular movement of an object around a center of rotation. A three-dimensional object rotates always around an imaginary line called a rotation axis. If the axis is within the body, and passes through its center of mass the body is said to rotate upon itself, or spin. A rotation...
) to permit a range of view. The viewing machines are commonly placed in tourist destinations and scenic lookouts for the purpose of viewing attractions and events of interest; they are also used in residential, business, recreational and government locations for the purposes of surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
and safety monitoring.
Tower viewers are known by a variety of names, which include:
- coin(-operated) binocularBinocularBinocular may refer to:* Binocular vision, seeing with two eyes* Binoculars, a telescopic tool* Binocular, a thoroughbred race horse* Binocular , Kevin Rudolf's band that released a self-titled album in 2001....
s, coin(-operated) telescopeTelescopeA telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
, coin(-operated) scopeScopeThe word scope may refer to many different devices or viewing instruments, constructed for many different purposes. It may refer to a telescopic sight, an optical device commonly used on firearms. Other uses of scope or Scopes may refer to:...
, coin(-operated) viewerViewerThings known as a viewer include:* For television viewer, see Audience; Audience measurement; Nielsen ratings* File viewer, a piece of computer software that displays the data stored in a computer file in a human-friendly form... - donation viewer
- free use viewer
- my little gold mine
- observation binoculars, observation telescope, observation viewer
- optical ranger, optical sight
- outdoor viewer
- non-coin(-operated) binocularBinocularBinocular may refer to:* Binocular vision, seeing with two eyes* Binoculars, a telescopic tool* Binocular, a thoroughbred race horse* Binocular , Kevin Rudolf's band that released a self-titled album in 2001....
s, non-coin(-operated) telescopeTelescopeA telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
, non-coin(-operated) scopeScopeThe word scope may refer to many different devices or viewing instruments, constructed for many different purposes. It may refer to a telescopic sight, an optical device commonly used on firearms. Other uses of scope or Scopes may refer to:...
, non-coin(-operated) viewerViewerThings known as a viewer include:* For television viewer, see Audience; Audience measurement; Nielsen ratings* File viewer, a piece of computer software that displays the data stored in a computer file in a human-friendly form... - Pinnacle Scope
- revenue binoculars, revenue telescope
- scenic magnifierMagnifierA magnifier is a device used for magnification.Magnifier can also refer to:*Magnifying glass, an optical device for magnification*Screen magnifier, software that magnifies part of a computer screen...
, scenic telescope, scenic viewer - spyglassSpyglassSpyglass, Inc. , was an Internet software company based in Champaign, Illinois.The company, founded in 1990, was an offshoot of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and created to commercialize and support technologies from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications...
viewer, spyglasses - stationary binoculars, stationary telescope
- tower binoculars, tower scope, tower telescope
- view master, viewfinderViewfinderIn photography, a viewfinder is what the photographer looks through to compose, and in many cases to focus, the picture. Most viewfinders are separate, and suffer parallax, while the single-lens reflex camera lets the viewfinder use the main optical system. Viewfinders are used in many cameras of...
, viewer, viewing scope, viewing machine, viewing stand, viewing telescope
Features
Tower viewers vary in terms of the features offered. Common features of interest include:Viewing capabilities
- Directories: Some devices provide directories that guide users to easily target specific attractions within a tower viewer's field of vision.
- Focus, magnification, and power: Some devices focusFocus (optics)In geometrical optics, a focus, also called an image point, is the point where light rays originating from a point on the object converge. Although the focus is conceptually a point, physically the focus has a spatial extent, called the blur circle. This non-ideal focusing may be caused by...
automatically, while others permit users to manually adjust a viewer's focus and magnification to suit their individual needs. The range within such adjustments can be made are limited by a device's magnification power. - Height adjustment: Some machines allow users to adjust the height of the viewing device itself and/or its base.
- Range of motion: The latitude of motion varies among manufacturers and viewer models.
Audio capabilities
Some machines (such as Hi-Spy Viewing Machines, Inc.) are equipped with speakers that enable listeners to hear audio guides to the attractions within view. Additionally, listeners may select the language they wish to hear.Paid versus free use
Tower viewers placed in public locations or used for fundraising purposes may be coin-operated or bill-acceptors; some others are free of charge. When payment is required to operate the machine, the viewing period is specifically timed. In the case of coin-operated Tower Optical viewers, for example, paid viewing times are "roughly 1.5 to 2.5 minutes".Prevalence
Tower viewers are popularly used worldwide. For example, SeeCoast Manufacturing Company states: "SeeCoast's viewers can be found in every U.S. state and in over 80 overseas locations throughout the world."Manufacturers
Two well-known manufacturers of tower viewers in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
are Tower Optical
Tower Optical
Tower Optical Company, Inc. is a small, Norwalk, Connecticut-based company which has manufactured a binocular tower viewer used at major tourist sites in the United States and Canada since 1932...
Co., Inc. (founded in 1933) and SeeCoast Manufacturing Company, Inc. (founded in 1960). Both firms offer wheelchair-accessible viewer bases that provide easy access to the sighting mechanisms, in compliance with the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Examples of tower viewer manufacturers located abroad include Hi-Spy Viewing Machines, Inc. (established in 1991) in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada
In popular culture
Tower viewers are often portrayed in popular culture, sometimes as backdrops, but at times as plot devices.Movies
- In the 1993 movie, Sleepless in SeattleSleepless in SeattleThe film was originally to have been scored by John Barry, but when he was given a list of 20 songs he had to put in the film, he quit.#As Time Goes By - Jimmy Durante #A Kiss to Build a Dream on - Louis Armstrong #Stardust - Nat King Cole...
, tower viewers are visible in the scenes shot on the Empire State BuildingEmpire State BuildingThe Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
's Observation Deck. - In the 2005 movie, Fever PitchFever PitchFever Pitch: A Fan's Life is the title of a 1992 autobiographical book by British author Nick Hornby. The book is the basis for two films: Fever Pitch was released in 1997, and Fever Pitch in 2005...
- In the 2007 movie, CamilleCamille (2007 film)-Plot:The plot follows the two characters who have recently married and are going to Niagara Falls on their honeymoon. Silas Parker is a thief who marries Camille Foster , his parole officer's niece, in hopes it will be his chance to escape to Canada...
- In the 2008 movie, The Love GuruThe Love GuruThe Love Guru is a 2008 comedy film, directed by Marco Schnabel and starring Mike Myers and Jessica Alba along with Romany Malco and Justin Timberlake. In addition to starring in the film, Myers wrote The Love Guru with Graham Gordy and produced it with Gary Barber. The film was released by...
- In the 2008 movie, Yes ManYes Man (film)Yes Man is a 2008 comedy film directed by Peyton Reed, written by Nicholas Stoller, Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel and starring Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, John Michael Higgins, Rhys Darby, Maile Flanagan, Danny Masterson, and Terence Stamp...
Television
- In The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
episode, "Funhouse" (2000), Tony SopranoTony SopranoAnthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
dreams that he is viewing the Atlantic OceanAtlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
through a coin-operated tower viewer until the viewer shuts off at its allotted time, without warning. The music playing during this sequence is "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty and The HeartbreakersTom Petty and the HeartbreakersTom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch...
. This incident foretells the series finale's final frameMade in America (The Sopranos)"Made in America" is the twenty-first episode of the sixth season of the HBO television drama series The Sopranos and the series finale. It is the eighty-sixth overall episode of the series and the ninth episode of the second part of the sixth season, which was broadcast in two batches with a break...
: one moment, Tony SopranoTony SopranoAnthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
is looking up to see who is entering the diner where he, Carmela SopranoCarmela SopranoCarmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:...
, and AJ Soprano are sitting at a table waiting for Meadow SopranoMeadow SopranoMeadow Mariangela Soprano , played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.-Character:Meadow is the first-born child of Tony and Carmela Soprano...
to arrive, while Journey'sJourney (band)Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
song, "Don't Stop Believin'Don't Stop Believin'"Don't Stop Believin is a popular song by the American rock band Journey, originally released as a single from their 1981 album Escape, which became a #9 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 on its original release. It re-entered the UK Singles Chart in 2009 as a result of increased prominence of digital...
" plays in the background; the next moment - precisely at the conclusion of the lyrics, "Don't stop" - all audio abruptly stops and the screen smash cutSmash cutA smash cut is a technique in film and other moving visual media where one scene abruptly cuts to another without transition, usually meant to startle the audience. To this end, the smash cut usually occurs at a crucial moment in a scene where a cut would not be expected...
s to white. - In CTV Television NetworkCTV television networkCTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
's 2009 TV adveristement for the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter OlympicsThe 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
: Vancouver - In the Royal Canadian MintRoyal Canadian MintThe Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
’s TV advertisement for the new 2009 Olympic quarters - In the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter OlympicsThe 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
: Vancouver TV advertisement (running pre-Olympics)