2023 / Educational / Educational Tools: Teaching Aids / Professional

The Galton Board

• Prizes
  Winner in EDUCATIONAL/Educational Tools: Teaching Aids
• Company
  Poissant Design Associates Inc., Canada
• Lead Designer
  Philip Poissant (PDAI)
• Design Team
  Philip Poissant (PDAI), Mark Hebner (IFA)
• Client
  Index Fund Advisors Inc. (IFA)
• Project Link
  view
• Other credit
  Mathematical Consultant: Art Forster

The Galton Board is a desktop ‘probability machine’ incorporating the 1873 invention of Sir Francis Galton. It demonstrates the mathematical concept of binomial distribution by approximating the statistical concept of normal distribution. As you rotate the transparent assembly, you set into motion the flow of 6,000 steel beads captured within the upper reservoir. As the beads cascade downward through a matrix of hexagonal pegs, they have an equal probability of bouncing to the left or right. When the beads accumulate in the lower 15 bins, overall they approximate the shape of the Bell Curve.