Imagination Station
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The Imagination Station is a key invention of John Avery Whittaker and one of the most important plot devices in the radio drama Adventures in Odyssey. Since its invention by Whittaker (begun as the "Environment Enhancer" in episode #46: "The Shepherd and the Giant"), it has been involved in several dozen AIO episodes, videos, and books. The specific workings of the Imagination Station are not clear, except that it is a virtual reality device that allows users to experience history.
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[edit] Development
[edit] "Environment Enhancer"
The first development of the "Imagination Station" occurred in episode #46, "The Shepherd and the Giant". In the episode, Whit allows Connie to try out his new Environment Enhancer, a device that "adds effects and music while you're listening to a story, [to] make it seem like you're there". At the start of the episode, Whit references a microchip and a processor, in addition to headphones. Connie uses the Environment Enhancer to listen to the story of David and Goliath. The Environment Enhancer makes no further appearances in the AIO storyline.
[edit] "Digger" Digwillow's Adventure
The first user of the Imagination Station (excepting Whit, who, presumably, tested it) was "Digger" Digwillow, in episodes #66 & #67, "The Imagination Station, Parts 1 & 2". "Digger," who described the Imagination Station as resembling "one of those old time machines in the comics", witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus through the machine.
[edit] Programs
Typically, Imagination Station programs have covered either Bible stories (like Christ's crucifixion, the story of David and Jonathan, and Moses and the Passover) or historical events (the American Revolution, the Gettysburg Address, etc.).
However, programs are not limited to either of these; for the most part, programs can be written about whatever the programmer chooses. In one notable two-part episode, "The Mortal Coil," Whit wrote a program about death, which (though he didn't know it at the time he wrote the program) allowed the one in the Imagination station a glimpse of either heaven or hell. While in the program, Whit experienced a heart attack in real life, but remained in a coma after stabilizing because he was unwilling to let go of the glimpse of heaven he had caught. After waking up, Whit made the decision to delete the program.
[edit] Involvement with story arcs
Eugene Meltsner used the Death Program and found himself in Hell because he was not a Christian. In fear of Hell, he hid inside his college dorm room, where Connie witnessed to him about Christianity. Eugene later used the Imagination Station to relive his life in Odyssey and decided to become a Christian.
The Imagination Station played a huge role in the Novacom saga, and in the two-part episode "Blackgaard's Revenge".
