Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Fire Works

CALLING ALL BETA TESTERS

We have just finished designing a graphics program used to make custom patterns for the PEGS and we want you to try and break it! Or you could simply use it for its intended purpose of creating animated graphics, either way works :) The ultimate goal for this software is to create patterns, share those patterns with others and upload them directly to your glasses.

Link to download

We used the free Visual Basic Express to create it and we would like to share the source code but don't know how. Should we post to Git Hub? If you have any suggestions let us know! Also if there are any java programmers out there who want to make something like this, drop us a line, we'd love to have something cross platform.

VIDEO TUTORIAL

Caleb has also put together a quick video tutorial on using the program. Check it out before you get started.

As always if you have any suggestion please leave them in the comments below. Also don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss an update :)

10 comments:

  1. Just downloaded the software, watching the tutorial now and then will get deeper into the software. Just tested it out a bit, and it seems very easy to use (Also a bit basic, but I think it does the job very well). Still have to go more indepth though :)

    By the way, the only thing that is bothering is me is that in the middle the leds are seperated. I am not sure if that is awesome or not... hmmmm

    For example we got Rave Shades here:

    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/763706693/rave-shadestm-the-self-assemble-led-glasses-kit?ref=live

    Which are a bit more expensive though, but they have very bright lights and also leds in the middle (above your nose). Not sure since it will be a design choice from your end, maybe yours could look more awesome, only time will tell. :)

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    1. I've followed him from his first prototype to the kickstarter page (as a fan, not as a competitor). Those glasses are very cool for an electronic enthusiast but not for the general public. I say that because they are a kit you have to solder together yourself, perfectly size them to your head by cutting and soldering wires to connect the front and back board then attach an external regulated battery pack. They also only have a few very small holes to see through. Please don't take this as a negative comment towards his product because a hobby electronics guy would say "Shut up and take my money" presented with this!

      We want to make something for your average sorority girl, football fanatic, rave party enthusiast, basically your average Joe. This means take it out of the box, put them on and they light up :)

      This is getting long... We chose to separate the left and right to give you more LEDs! You lose so many LEDs from the nose, curse you anatomy :), that we can give you more by getting rid of those few. How many more? About 16 or 10% :)

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    2. Awesome comment, seems like a good reason to do this! :) I am not saying anything is better, I am just saying that the Rave Shades look really cool, though I have not seen your new concept yet so we will see about that. :)

      Also it's awesome that you are delivering a total product without needing a lot of technical skills, because that was exactly what I was searching for :) Not that I am not technical, but I just like things the easy way haha ;)

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  2. Also how many patterns do you think the glasses could hold? If it will be like 1 MB or something it will be a lot of patterns, but if it's only a few kb, then it will only be a few patterns. Should be a very interesting topic :)

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    1. The memory unit we're planning to use has room for ~100 patterns.

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  3. The program seems pretty solid so far, though a good suggestion could be that you could just simply create a block (Just like you do in windows to select multiple icons) so you should not just redraw everything over and over again. :) You simply just draw a block and move everything all together, so that should make animation a whole lot easier ^^

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    Replies
    1. I like that, thanks for the suggestion. I will work on adding that with the undo button

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    2. Also if you require more precision, you could also add pixel by pixel tagging. (So you basically tag all pixels which you want to move, and then start moving.)

      I think if you implement both you have the best solution, since the box thing is very handy for text (When less precision is required) and tagging pixel by pixel is very handy for like making fireworks. (When you want to go multiple directions, and require more precision)

      Not sure though, in the end it's up to you, but I think it is something to consider. :)

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  4. Also where is the subscribe button for your blog? I am not very used to Blogger, but damn, I am just not able to find it o.O

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    Replies
    1. Didn't have one lol. Added two subscription options on the top right.

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