His research focuses on technologies and instruments that cross the borders between professionals and amateurs. He participates in the research project Technologies of Memory and the Cultural Dynamics of Home Movies. Wachelder has a special interest in toys that mediate among scientific research, instruction, and amusement. His work on pre-cinema history (e.g. the phenakistiscope) testifies to this. See also http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/web/Profile/jo.wachelder.htm#researchpublications.