This is one of three pieces in The Three Sisters set I've been working
on - for what seems like FOREVER. Like the other two, it uses a small,
battery
powered, programmable micro-computer to control its "behavior".

A small unobtrusive sensor (a Light Detecting Resistor) is incorporated
in the finial. When a shadow falls on the sensor / detector the
"controller"
senses the change and turns on a special type of light emitting diode
(LED). This little puppy has THREE different little LEDs built into one
lens - Red,
Green and Blue - RGB. Each of the three LED's brightness can be set to
one of 255 levels - 0=off, 255 = max brightness. So - with a little
programming magic - it can put out any color in the visible spectrum.

So, this piece sits there looking like a normal static hollow form with
finial - and some little surface decorative "beads" around it. But when
a shadow
passes over its finial it goes into Display Mode - the little beads
begin glowing - and changing colors. Shadow goes away - the beads stop
glowing - the
piece returns to being a normal static turning.

I shot the video with day light coming through windows on three sides so
I had to cup my hand over the sensor to shade it. If the piece were top
lit
the sensor would be triggered from farther away - say by leaning over
the piece examine it.

Working with these micro-computers / "stamp controllers" was just a wee
bit trickier than I thought it would be. With just ONE controlled
"component" things are easy. With two controlled components it still
isn't that tricky. To get them to work together - the way you want them
to
work - well THAT can get tricky - IF timing is important - for
generating a tone at a specific pitch - or tones whose pitch changes
based on what a
"sensor" is seeing, feeling or hearing. I'm working on a bunch of web
pages about this "stamp controller" thing that hopefully will make
things easier
For The Next Guy - or Gal.

Will be posting links to the Youngest Sister and the Oldest Sister in
the near future - hopefully.

Here's the link to the YouTube vid of this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo4xLYxGGG4

comments, questions, constructive criticism welcomed.

"charlie b" wrote in message
...
This is one of three pieces in The Three Sisters set I've been working
on - for what seems like FOREVER. Like the other two, it uses a small,
battery
powered, programmable micro-computer to control its "behavior".

A small unobtrusive sensor (a Light Detecting Resistor) is incorporated
in the finial. When a shadow falls on the sensor / detector the
"controller"
senses the change and turns on a special type of light emitting diode
(LED). This little puppy has THREE different little LEDs built into one
lens - Red,
Green and Blue - RGB. Each of the three LED's brightness can be set to
one of 255 levels - 0=off, 255 = max brightness. So - with a little
programming magic - it can put out any color in the visible spectrum.

So, this piece sits there looking like a normal static hollow form with
finial - and some little surface decorative "beads" around it. But when
a shadow
passes over its finial it goes into Display Mode - the little beads
begin glowing - and changing colors. Shadow goes away - the beads stop
glowing - the
piece returns to being a normal static turning.

I shot the video with day light coming through windows on three sides so
I had to cup my hand over the sensor to shade it. If the piece were top
lit
the sensor would be triggered from farther away - say by leaning over
the piece examine it.

Working with these micro-computers / "stamp controllers" was just a wee
bit trickier than I thought it would be. With just ONE controlled
"component" things are easy. With two controlled components it still
isn't that tricky. To get them to work together - the way you want them
to
work - well THAT can get tricky - IF timing is important - for
generating a tone at a specific pitch - or tones whose pitch changes
based on what a
"sensor" is seeing, feeling or hearing. I'm working on a bunch of web
pages about this "stamp controller" thing that hopefully will make
things easier
For The Next Guy - or Gal.

Will be posting links to the Youngest Sister and the Oldest Sister in
the near future - hopefully.

Here's the link to the YouTube vid of this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo4xLYxGGG4

comments, questions, constructive criticism welcomed.


Can you build in an on/off delay?

BTW, very Cool!

--
National Socialism showed what can happen when very ordinary people get
control of a state and the merely opportunistic are regarded as
intellectuals.

Anthony Burgess

"charlie b" wrote in message
...
This is one of three pieces in The Three Sisters set I've been working
on - for what seems like FOREVER. Like the other two, it uses a small,
battery
powered, programmable micro-computer to control its "behavior".

A small unobtrusive sensor (a Light Detecting Resistor) is incorporated
in the finial. When a shadow falls on the sensor / detector the
"controller"
senses the change and turns on a special type of light emitting diode
(LED). This little puppy has THREE different little LEDs built into one
lens - Red,
Green and Blue - RGB. Each of the three LED's brightness can be set to
one of 255 levels - 0=off, 255 = max brightness. So - with a little
programming magic - it can put out any color in the visible spectrum.

So, this piece sits there looking like a normal static hollow form with
finial - and some little surface decorative "beads" around it. But when
a shadow
passes over its finial it goes into Display Mode - the little beads
begin glowing - and changing colors. Shadow goes away - the beads stop
glowing - the
piece returns to being a normal static turning.

I shot the video with day light coming through windows on three sides so
I had to cup my hand over the sensor to shade it. If the piece were top
lit
the sensor would be triggered from farther away - say by leaning over
the piece examine it.

Working with these micro-computers / "stamp controllers" was just a wee
bit trickier than I thought it would be. With just ONE controlled
"component" things are easy. With two controlled components it still
isn't that tricky. To get them to work together - the way you want them
to
work - well THAT can get tricky - IF timing is important - for
generating a tone at a specific pitch - or tones whose pitch changes
based on what a
"sensor" is seeing, feeling or hearing. I'm working on a bunch of web
pages about this "stamp controller" thing that hopefully will make
things easier
For The Next Guy - or Gal.

Will be posting links to the Youngest Sister and the Oldest Sister in
the near future - hopefully.

Here's the link to the YouTube vid of this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo4xLYxGGG4

comments, questions, constructive criticism welcomed.


How about Three Fingered Jack? The Sisters are North, Middle and South.

--
National Socialism showed what can happen when very ordinary people get
control of a state and the merely opportunistic are regarded as
intellectuals.

Anthony Burgess

Lobby Dosser wrote:

Can you build in an on/off delay?


Sure. But that would make Cause & Effect less clear and I WANT a
"viewer" to intentionally interact with the piece - to literally play
with - and play with the light.

With this piece, I could eliminate the sensor on the finial and just
have the LED go on and off at random intervals and do different
"displays" each time. While that would keep the "dynamic" part of
dynamic interaction, it'd eliminate the "interaction" element.

The idea of randomness is interesting. When I finish The Three Sisters
set I think I'll look into using that idea.

Lot's of possibilities when you have light and sound to play with
and can program their behavior. Adding a sensor to trigger things
does add an additional element to pieces though.

"charlie b" wrote in message
...
Lobby Dosser wrote:

Can you build in an on/off delay?


Sure. But that would make Cause & Effect less clear and I WANT a
"viewer" to intentionally interact with the piece - to literally play
with - and play with the light.

No, I mean a delay before it goes off, or a 1-3 second delay before it goes
on. I'm thinking about a small puzzle for the viewer.

Lobby Dosser wrote:

No, I mean a delay before it goes off, or a 1-3 second delay before it goes
on. I'm thinking about a small puzzle for the viewer.

Sure. You could program it so that until sensor #1 has been triggered,
sensor
#2 won't be activated. Once sensor #1 & 2 have been activated another
function could be activated. That function could activate a servo which
could
pull a bolt back, allowing a door to be opened.

Interesting idea, using the controller for a puzzle. Thanks.