PixelBrite: Programmable Pixel Light Panels

I’m getting used to being in total awe of some of the creativity, innovation, and pure genius displayed by people all over the Internet. The Geek collective especially seems to be amply blessed in all three departments, and this Instructable inspired by the wonderful Close Encounters of the Third Kind, posted by LeoneLabs, is no exception.

Admittedly, this isn’t your easy-to-recreate kind of geekcraft. You’ll need to get your head around electronics, microcontrollers, a bit of code, and it looks like you’d need a fair bit of patience to do all of the optimising and stuff that LeoneLabs goes into in the later steps. The components and materials also cost in the region of $550, but when you look at the results (and there are more awesome images to drool over if you follow the link), it looks like $550 well spent!

Personally, I have nothing further than GCSE (10th grade) electronics knowledge, and probably even less experience wth microcontrollers. So I will just sit back and marvel at the greatness that is PixelBrite, and wish I had one. Or four.

Category: Computers, Craft, Gadgets, Geek, Toys, Tutorial | 3 Comments

October 11

Tutorial Tuesday: Glowing Messenger Bag Hack

Instructables contributor TardisTrekkie shows us how to modify a messenger bag to inlude a glowing panel in this tutorial.

“If you’re looking for the ultimate bag to show your geek pride, you’ve come to the right place! In this instructable, I’ll give you step-by-step instructions on how to make an awesome bag that will literally have people stopping you on the street to ask where you got it!”

Category: Craft, Geek | Comments Off

May 17

Paper Dolls by Breeyn McCarney and Christopher Lewis

I really love when something simple becomes something outrageous and astonishing–like Paper Dolls, the project by best friend pair Breeyn McCarney and Christopher Lewis. Breeyn took paper crafting to a wholly different building (forget a new level!) making these gorgeous, hand cut paper dresses. Then, because that wasn’t awesome enough, Chris rigged these babies up with LED lighting, and remote controls!

Now, all of that is pretty amazing, but stand by for the REALLY cool part. Tomorrow at 9pm EST, Bree and Chris will be on the web show Nat and Marie, showcasing these amazing dresses, and you (yes, YOU) can interact with the dresses from your browser or smart phone! High fashion, high tech, social networking…is there anything they can’t do?

So be sure to catch Paper Dolls on Nat and Marie tomorrow at 9pm EST, and watch Geek Crafts next week for the follow up interview with Breeyn and Chris! While you wait for the show, you absolutely MUST watch this video.