http://www.brendankeim.com www.brendankeim.com Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:43:45 +0000 http://www.brendankeim.com en http://www.brendankeim.com/DIM-SOME-CHANDELIER http://www.brendankeim.com/following/brendankeim.com/DIM-SOME-CHANDELIER Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:43:45 +0000 www.brendankeim.com 3591477 <img src="http://payload64.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3591477/brendankeimDimSomeChandelierimg1_2048.jpg" width="903" height="600" width_o="903" height_o="600" src_o="http://payload64.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3591477/brendankeimDimSomeChandelierimg1_o.jpg" data-mid="18588990" border="0" align="left"/> A chandelier that explores the idea of how light can grow through both intensity and quantity, through the familiar interface of dimmer knobs. The user can create more light by turning on or off more bulbs with one knob (quantity), while a second knob adjusts the brightness of the light emitted from each bulb (intensity). At each adjustment level of quantity, intensity can also be manipulated. A chandelier that explores the idea of how light can grow through both intensity and quantity, through the familiar interface of dimmer knobs. The user can... http://www.brendankeim.com/FURNITURE-KIT http://www.brendankeim.com/following/brendankeim.com/FURNITURE-KIT Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:58:53 +0000 www.brendankeim.com 2617763 The Furniture Kit is an attempt at an open-ended furniture object. Over time, the user develops a catalog of knowledge for how these parts can be manipulated and controlled. <img src="http://payload15.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2617763/brendankeimFurnitureKit1_2048.jpg" width="900" height="601" width_o="900" height_o="601" src_o="http://payload15.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2617763/brendankeimFurnitureKit1_o.jpg" data-mid="18587457" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload15.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2617763/brendankeimFurnitureKit2_2048.jpg" width="900" height="601" width_o="900" height_o="601" src_o="http://payload15.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2617763/brendankeimFurnitureKit2_o.jpg" data-mid="18587490" border="0" align="left"/> The Furniture Kit is an attempt at an open-ended furniture object. Over time, the user develops a catalog of knowledge for how these parts can be manipulated and... http://www.brendankeim.com/PULLSTRING-LAMP http://www.brendankeim.com/following/brendankeim.com/PULLSTRING-LAMP Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:18:24 +0000 www.brendankeim.com 2620575 <img src="http://payload16.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2620575/brendankeimPullstring1.jpg" width="598" height="900" width_o="598" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload16.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2620575/brendankeimPullstring1_o.jpg" data-mid="18586069" border="0" align="left"/> Through scale, the pullstring has become the lamp itself. Through scale, the pullstring has become the lamp itself. http://www.brendankeim.com/BREAKABLE-TOPS http://www.brendankeim.com/following/brendankeim.com/BREAKABLE-TOPS Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:13:31 +0000 www.brendankeim.com 2641756 <img src="http://payload17.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2641756/breakable-tops.jpg" width="468" height="328" width_o="468" height_o="328" src_o="http://payload17.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2641756/breakable-tops_o.jpg" data-mid="13372715" border="0" align="left"/> BREAKABLES TOPS These glass tops were designed and created for the AmDC Breakables exhibit. BREAKABLES TOPS These glass tops were designed and created for the AmDC Breakables exhibit. http://www.brendankeim.com/TILT-LAMP-2 http://www.brendankeim.com/following/brendankeim.com/TILT-LAMP-2 Wed, 13 Jun 2012 15:09:53 +0000 www.brendankeim.com 3583907 <img src="http://payload64.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3583907/Megatron Image for Web 1.jpg" width="438" height="518" width_o="438" height_o="518" src_o="http://payload64.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3583907/Megatron Image for Web 1_o.jpg" data-mid="18547274" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload64.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3583907/Megatron Image for Web 2.jpg" width="438" height="518" width_o="438" height_o="518" src_o="http://payload64.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3583907/Megatron Image for Web 2_o.jpg" data-mid="18547275" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload64.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3583907/Megatron Image for Web 4_2048.jpg" width="780" height="518" width_o="780" height_o="518" src_o="http://payload64.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3583907/Megatron Image for Web 4_o.jpg" data-mid="18547276" border="0" align="left"/> A two-position lamp for multiple lighting themes: when upright, a slight down-light is revealed. When angled, a bright direct light illuminates. Made from ebonized soft maple. A two-position lamp for multiple lighting themes: when upright, a slight down-light is revealed. When angled, a bright direct light illuminates. Made from... http://www.brendankeim.com/TILT-LAMP-3 http://www.brendankeim.com/following/brendankeim.com/TILT-LAMP-3 Wed, 13 Jun 2012 15:06:36 +0000 www.brendankeim.com 2620237 <img src="http://payload16.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2620237/Optimus Prime Image for Web 1.jpg" width="630" height="518" width_o="630" height_o="518" src_o="http://payload16.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2620237/Optimus Prime Image for Web 1_o.jpg" data-mid="13320490" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload16.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2620237/Optimus Prime Image for Web 2.jpg" width="630" height="518" width_o="630" height_o="518" src_o="http://payload16.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/2620237/Optimus Prime Image for Web 2_o.jpg" data-mid="13320492" border="0" align="left"/> A two-position lamp for multiple lighting themes: when upright, a slight down-light is revealed. When angled, a bright direct light illuminates. Made from sapele. A two-position lamp for multiple lighting themes: when upright, a slight down-light is revealed. When angled, a bright direct light illuminates. Made from sapele. http://www.brendankeim.com/REMOTE-CONTROL http://www.brendankeim.com/following/brendankeim.com/REMOTE-CONTROL Mon, 11 Jun 2012 10:30:14 +0000 www.brendankeim.com 3567123 <img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 1_2048.jpg" width="1355" height="900" width_o="1355" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 1_o.jpg" data-mid="18453200" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 2_2048.jpg" width="1355" height="900" width_o="1355" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 2_o.jpg" data-mid="18453207" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 3_2048.jpg" width="1355" height="900" width_o="1355" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 3_o.jpg" data-mid="18453216" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 4_2048.jpg" width="1355" height="900" width_o="1355" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 4_o.jpg" data-mid="18453228" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 5_2048.jpg" width="920" height="900" width_o="920" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 5_o.jpg" data-mid="18453234" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 6.jpg" width="598" height="900" width_o="598" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control 6_o.jpg" data-mid="18453237" border="0" align="left"/> Indicator dials. It’s been a reoccurring item in a lot of these projects, but mostly as just another component. With the Remote Control, it’s all about the indicator dial. The profile is a “truncated octagon” of sorts - only 7 sides exist, but each are 45 degrees apart from the next side. Two of the sides come to a 90 degree point, creating a reference of indication. This profile actually came about by accident. I was preparing turning blanks for a project that involved woodturning in a public setting, almost as a performance. To make my life easier for the performance, I decided to take my square blanks and “45” the edges along the length, to create an octagonal profile. This action gets the blank closer to a circular profile, thus making turning easier once mounted to a lathe. Before the last cut was made, I noticed something interesting - an indicator dial was created in extruded form. <img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control Sketch 1_2048.jpg" width="1500" height="252" width_o="1500" height_o="252" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control Sketch 1_o.jpg" data-mid="18453459" border="0" align="left"/> The Remote Control is made of solid wood (birch), as a reference to the wooden blocks I spent hours building civilizations with as a child. There is no indicator light, or visible on/off switch. Nothing that would tell you it has a brain inside capable of reading angles wirelessly control power outlets. In many ways, this combines a lot of the features of previous projects. The coding allows the Remote Control to act as a dimmer knob of sorts - as the indicator rises, more things go on. This is my intention, but as this is an open device, you may have a different program in mind. Perhaps you want facet #3 to only output outlet #3 (as opposed to outlets 1-3), while facet #2 outputs all even-numbered outlets. However, instead of reading a potentiometer typical of dimmer knobs, the Remote Control uses my beloved accelerometer to read the angles of each facet. <img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control Sketch 2_2048.jpg" width="1500" height="166" width_o="1500" height_o="166" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3567123/Remote Control Sketch 2_o.jpg" data-mid="18453461" border="0" align="left"/> As the remote roles from position 1 - position 7, another outlet is activated. The Remote Control is a reaction to my utter disdain for universal remotes and home automation systems. Most of these items are over-complicated, and use multi-layered digital menus to cycle through. They drive me nuts. I love simple, almost dumb, interfaces, and so the Remote Control was born. It is a simple, analog interface to control a rather complex digital system. As a child of the 80’s, I cannot let go of my analog world. I pity the children today who only know the faux world of Instagram, but have never held a Polaroid in their hand as it developed into a crisp image before their eyes. download Arduino code Indicator dials. It’s been a reoccurring item in a lot of these projects, but mostly as just another component. With the Remote Control, it’s all about the... http://www.brendankeim.com/FLASHLIGHTSTICK http://www.brendankeim.com/following/brendankeim.com/FLASHLIGHTSTICK Mon, 11 Jun 2012 10:03:27 +0000 www.brendankeim.com 3566909 <img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3566909/Ben FlashLightstick_2048.jpg" width="1192" height="900" width_o="1192" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3566909/Ben FlashLightstick_o.jpg" data-mid="18452218" border="0" align="left"/> a simple wooden flashlight. Moving from the simplicity of the candle for light, the next Lightstick in this series gets a bit more complex through the introduction of electronics: an LED flashlight has been retrofitted to a new wooden profile. a simple wooden flashlight. Moving from the simplicity of the candle for light, the next Lightstick in this series gets a bit more complex through the... http://www.brendankeim.com/FLASH-LIGHT-SYNCHRONIZER http://www.brendankeim.com/following/brendankeim.com/FLASH-LIGHT-SYNCHRONIZER Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:58:34 +0000 www.brendankeim.com 3566830 <img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3566830/Flashlight Synchronizer 1_2048.jpg" width="1350" height="900" width_o="1350" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3566830/Flashlight Synchronizer 1_o.jpg" data-mid="18451979" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3566830/Flashlight Synchronizer 2_2048.jpg" width="1350" height="900" width_o="1350" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3566830/Flashlight Synchronizer 2_o.jpg" data-mid="18451987" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3566830/Flashlight Synchronizer 3_2048.jpg" width="1350" height="900" width_o="1350" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3566830/Flashlight Synchronizer 3_o.jpg" data-mid="18451993" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3566830/Flashlight Synchronizer 4_2048.jpg" width="1350" height="900" width_o="1350" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3566830/Flashlight Synchronizer 4_o.jpg" data-mid="18451998" border="0" align="left"/> This project started as almost a joke. I saw the LED housing assembly on Sparkfun, and the visual language just read the same as my wooden Lightsticks. I ordered it immediately and realized during the build that this wasn’t going to fit in any wooden profile I was working with. Some research was needed. In the original movies, the props specialists used light synchronizers as the base to create a particular character’s weapon. Various hardware was added, cuts were made, paint was applied. It just so happens I was able to get my hands on a vintage Sun King Light Synchronizer on Ebay. 60+ years old, but still new in box and only $20. Not too shabby. download Arduino code This project started as almost a joke. I saw the LED housing assembly on Sparkfun, and the visual language just read the same as my wooden Lightsticks. I ordered... http://www.brendankeim.com/RGBW-LAMP http://www.brendankeim.com/following/brendankeim.com/RGBW-LAMP Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:47:44 +0000 www.brendankeim.com 3562383 <img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3562383/RGBW1_2048.jpg" width="1210" height="900" width_o="1210" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3562383/RGBW1_o.jpg" data-mid="18451500" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3562383/RGBW3_2048.jpg" width="1210" height="900" width_o="1210" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3562383/RGBW3_o.jpg" data-mid="18451510" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3562383/RGBW4_2048.jpg" width="1210" height="900" width_o="1210" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3562383/RGBW4_o.jpg" data-mid="18451515" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3562383/RGBW2_2048.jpg" width="1210" height="900" width_o="1210" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3562383/RGBW2_o.jpg" data-mid="18451504" border="0" align="left"/> R + G + B = W What exactly does that mean? In lighting, when red light, green light, and blue light combine, you get white light. It works the opposite of pigment (you get black when all colors are combined). This concept was the basis for RGBW. The controller’s form has 3 angled facets at its base, each outputting R, G, or B. When the controller is upright, the facets are, in a way, combined, thus combining R, G, and B to create W. <img src="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3562383/RGBW5_2048.jpg" width="1050" height="900" width_o="1050" height_o="900" src_o="http://payload63.cargocollective.com/1/5/187987/3562383/RGBW5_o.jpg" data-mid="18451521" border="0" align="left"/> This one gets a little more complicated - compound angles. All of the last projects involving accelerometers were essentially reading one plane to give an output. But for this I knew I wanted my controller to have 3 facets at the base: one for R (red), one for G (green), and one for B (blue). The idea is that each facet outputs a corresponding color of light. Compound angles are a bit more difficult to read, and a lot more complicated to write corresponding code for. There is a bit of a cheat in the code for this, but it works well enough for a prototype, and it conveys the concept perfectly - colored light works the opposite of pigment. With pigment, when you combine all colors, you get black. But with light, colors combine to create white light. So a fourth facet has been added, one that slices through the R, G, & B planes. When the facets combine, the colored light combines to create white light. Added to this is the magical world of wireless. I used Xbee, which adds radio communication to the Arduino. Though it sounds complicated (and in a lot of ways it can be), once you get your first wireless code up an running, it really isn’t so bad. If you want to save yourself a lot of grief, don’t go with Sparkfun’s Xbee-USB Bootloader. I had way too much trouble with this item, and in the end, I think I fried it. I couldn’t configure the Xbees to save my life. I ended purchasing Adafruit’s version and had my Xbees configured and speaking to each other on the first try. Maybe I had a rare dud from Sparkfun, and I hope that was the case. But to me, Adafruit’s version is more reliable, and $5 cheaper. download Arduino code R + G + B = W What exactly does that mean? In lighting, when red light, green light, and blue light combine, you get white light. It works the opposite of pigment...