Octolively: Digital interactive LED surfaces

Octolively is an all-new, open source interactive LED surface kit that we're releasing today. Octolively features high resolution-- an independent motion sensor for every LED, stand-alone operation, a variety of response functions, and easy scaling for large grids.

Octolively represents our fourth generation of interactive LED surfaces.

Long-time readers might recall the original Interactive LED Dining Table, the infamous Interactive LED Coffee Tables, or the third-generation, not-very-creatively-named Interactive LED Panels. All of these surfaces were based on fully-analog circuitry with large circuit boards and a fairly high ratio of LEDs to sensors-- typically 20:1.

Octolively, by contrast, is based on smaller, lower-cost circuit board modules, "only" 4x8 inches in size. Part of the reason for this is so that there's more flexibility in making arbitrarily shaped arrays. Arrays can now be as skinny as 4" wide, or as wide as you like.

Each module features 8 LEDs and 8 independent proximity sensors-- one for each and every LED. The LEDs are (huge) 10 mm types, and that chip in the middle of the board is an (also huge) ATmega164 microcontroller. Each sensor consists of an infrared LED and phototransistor pair, which-- together with polling and readout from the microcontroller --acts as reflective motion sensor. The LEDs are spaced on a 2-inch grid, and the edge connectors allow boards to be tiled seamlessly.

Because the circuit is now primarily digital, it's easy to store a variety of response functions in the microcontroller. Our standard firmware contains 8 different response functions-- fades, ripples, shadows and sparkles, which you can change with a button press. As it's an open source project, we'll expect that (in time), others will become available as well.

And, because the entire circuit is self-contained on the module, the surface scales effortlessly-- you get very high resolution over huge areas without bandwidth bottlenecks, and no need for a central computer.

Of course, static pictures don't do much justice for interactive LED surfaces. (We've embedded our video above. If you can't see it here, click through to YouTube.)

And doesn't that look good with warm white LEDs?

Octolively begins shipping next week. Additional details-- including the datasheet and documentation links --are available on the product page.