In the case of the train we compare the emotional, physical, cognitive and intellectual aspects between the live-sized, the model and the digital version. Stonies (2016) describes how the eyes of men light up, when they see the steam locomotives (p.194). It seems like they have an emotional reaction to the physical object. However, Rieken (2016) argues that the compressed world of miniature trains allow a stronger emotional connection than their huge original, especially if they claim to be true to the original (p.43). With the model trains, we add another emotional aspect, that can’t be experienced through the live-sized one: The opportunity to build a world based on our own imagination (elliott, 1995, p.149; Turner, 2019; Rieken, 2016, p.40; Stonies, 2016, p.1995). Either, because it allows a controllable replication of the world, just a better version of the reality, it works as a world to escape to or just a way to be creative, it gives a lot more surface for emotional and cognitive attachment than the live-size alternative. Maybe the model train loses the purpose of transportation due to its size and the technical aspects are not as fascinating as of an actual steam locomotive, but it receives new reasons to build connections.
But how does a digital version now add value? You can’t actually touch this object, you can’t play with it or create a new world with it - does it lose all its characteristics through digitalization? In a way, we could say yes. If a model train is only building emotional attachment through its physical aspects, it is hard to feel the same in this version. But with Voyager, we are able to add another value that has not been conjured: We can add narratives that give background information and context that does not come with the box of a model train. Through adding pictures, videos and audio recordings, we can enhance the experience and value of the model train. The interface allows adding tours, articles and annotations to the model, connecting context and model, and creating a new experience around this train. And if your dad also never let you touch the trains, this is your opportunity to move it around!