Leonardo Online

For the first time, readers around the world can explore Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks and drawings, including plans for a town he designed but which was never built. “The new 3D Turning the Pages website version is unique in enabling readers to unscramble Leonardo’s text. Not only was his language medieval Italian; his handwriting ran from right to left, since this came easiest to him as a lefthander. The software, developed by library staff, allows viewers to reverse the script and read a translation of the text. Clive Izard, project manager, said the technology would allow a full translation to be added.”