Design

My finalish design is an EL wire creation. The central axis rotates making the EL wire leave behind light traces. There are to 25 to 30 strands of EL that are of the colours red yellow green blue and purple and they will be sequenced in that order rather than the colours being grouped together. Each colour has its own specific shape made of smooth arcs and angles so each colour will create a shape as it rotates. the light is controlled by a Micro controller and a shield that controls the EL wire, most likely an Arduino model. I will use a microphone and subsequent programming of the controller that turns on different colours and creates patterns with the EL wire according to the music that is around. The motor will run at the same speed but the speed and pattern will change with tempo and pitch, depending on how well I am able to write the code and wire it together. I think the overall effect will be quite mesmerising as the lights shape and colour. will be continually changing depending on what is playing.

Sketch Ideas

I started designing some potential ideas for my design. They are similar in technologies and materiel's but the design, composition and form are quite different.

 This design is the most dissimilar to my first project. It doesn’t use a motor and instead relies on human interaction and kinetic energy to get it to move. The "bouncing" from the elasticated cord make the EL wire jiggle around leaving behind light traces.












 

For this design It uses a motor and a proximity sensor for interaction. when People aren't around it turns slowly with the EL wire strands relaxed but when it senses a person near it the ball speeds up and so does the EL wire sequencing.

This design Idea is quite similar to my project one in the sense that it is El wire that spins leaving behind Light traces. I have been experimenting with form and interaction with this design and instead of it changing when people interact with it, it changes with music. I would have it so that depending on the tempo and pitch of the music it would activate different colours and patterns. In one design I thought of having a certain colour group attached to another motor that changes the shape of the light.

I have also thought about using different shapes for different colours to make it look quite erratic and then combining sequencing and patterns to bring the form to life.

interaction and control

Although the form and design of my project is still undecided, I have started looking into the interaction aspect of my project and control of the lighting intensity and specific colour.
I have been researching the Arduino micro controllers.  My knowledge of controllers is very limited but they seem cheap and relativley easy to use for a novice.

I found a possible Arduino shield that is specifically designed for sequencing and controlling el wire

EL Escudo
COM-09259    

 From looking at the controllers If I used a sheild for the EL wire it would be ideal for the sequencing I want to use.

Already price is looking to be a huge factor so hopefully I can get these items relatively cheap.

Im unsure of if I shall use human interaction to physically move it or if It will rely on motors. If I use a motor Im not sure If I will control it through the arduino. at least not at this stage.

Precidents

Here are a collection ogf images and design Ideas Ive looked into

Obviously I find lluminescence very inspiring and Is what my project is going to incorporate. At this stage Im still hunting inspiration for form and interaction but I am starting yto find Ideas that seem like they could work.

One thing that worries me with this project is cost. EL wire in the amount that I want to use is not exactly cheap and if I want to use an arduino curcuit board to control the project then that is going to make it quite pricey.

Project 1 part B

Ok for the second part of this project I still want to use EL wire. I dont know if  Ill end up using a motor or having it spin but I want it to be interactive and still use the light effects of the wire like the colour mixing and the light traces it leaves.

Project 1. conclusion

I am very dissapointed with how this project went. I recieved my EL wire finally on friday the 10th of august, 2 weeks after I had ordered it from the Hutt. The sellers reason for it arriving so late was he was hospitalised with a broken leg. Annoying but I will just get that product done and out of the way. I may have to make some changes to the design but I just want it done so I can focus on the next project.