Manual

Overview

Blinkdom is built with a PixelPusher hardware controller, networked to a computer, and driving RGB LED pixels mounted in recycled water bottles.

The computer is a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B running Raspbian. The network is a Buffalo Airstation 802.11n wireless Access Point and a Netgear 4-port Ethernet Switch.

PixelController software running on the Pi sends data to the PixelPusher hardware over the network. PixelPusher translates pixel data into electrical signals to the LEDs.

PixelController randomly generates a new visual every hour. Using a web browser or the TouchOSC app on an iPhone, PixelController can be remotely controlled over Wifi.

Resetting Blinkdom

When all else fails, turn the multi-plug's red power switch OFF for 10 seconds, then ON.

The reset process should take ~60 seconds.

The devices are solid state so interrupting the power will not damage the system. The Raspberry Pi reboots Ubuntu and loads DHCP, the web server, an Art-Net bridge, PixelController's Command Line Interface, and an OSC server. PixelPushers receive IP assignments and the Art-Net bridge re-detects their configuration. PixelController generates random parameters for the first visual and broadcasts E1.31 data. Blinkdom should light up and display the current visual for 60 minutes.

Wifi Access

Blinkdom runs a stand-alone TCP/IP network. It should NEVER be connected or bridged to a local network because:

  1. A DHCP Server assigns static IPs to devices that would cause address conflicts, knocking both devices off line
  2. A constant flood of UDP packets would slow down an actual network
  3. The Wifi SSID is broadcast and the password is publicly available

Credentials

To connect to Blinkdom:

SSID Blinkdom
Password bottles bottles everywhere and not a drop to drink
Security WPA2

Web Interface

Once on the Blinkdom network, open your web browser to http://192.168.3.3/ A simple interface loads to send commands to PixelController.

Presets

A grid of 144 preset buttons is at the top. Click a button and then click [LOAD SELECTED PRESET] to activate it.

[ LOAD RANDOM PRESET ] loads a random preset of pre-defined parameters

[ LOAD RANDOM VISUAL ] creates a new visual by randomizing parameters

Visual Display

For now Blinkdom should only use [ Visual #1 ]

Brightness

To avoid having your audience distracted during their meetings in the conference room, simply adjust the Brightness to [ 0% ] to blackout the display.

Next Visual Variables

A visual is generated by a combination of 2 Generators, 2 Effects, a Mixer, and a Colorset.

To scroll through parameter options, these buttons load the next value of each type.

Color Sets

2-4 colors are stored as a Color Set and are applied to the visual.

Generator Speed

Generators operate at 30 frames per second at [ 100% ].

To freeze the current frame, click [ 0% ].

To cause a headache or trigger a seizure, click [ 200% ].

TouchOSC

TouchOSC , for sale in the AppStore , allows you to send Open Sound Control messages to Blinkdom. It works best on a iPhone 5 but is available for iPhones and iPads with iOS 4.3 or later.

The template file is hosted at GitHub and can be loaded from a computer using the TouchOSC Editor.

Template Transfer Instructions

TouchOSC Editor Download