Abstract
Machines are Peter Turner’s life. They always have been, are now and probably always will be. He can blame his parents for this because despite urging Peter to become an optometrist they gave him inventive genes, a love of technology and holiday work in a factory fitting and turning, and welding. In the 30 years since completing his State Diploma in Optics in New Zealand (SDONZ), Peter has designed and developed three key pieces of optical equipment: a Sun‐Following Radio Telescope, a CCTV read/write system and the Berkeley Glare & Acuity Test (BEGAT). He has also completed myriad technological innovations for friends and family ranging from a motorised chair and stand unit for optometric rooms to components for venetian blind manufacturing.