Forums > Technical Discussion > HyperLight Update - 27-04-2007

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*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
Seems like a while since I've posted a progress update so here we go! Whilst things have been outwardly rather quiet, I've been working hard behind closed doors:

The electronics have had some major work on them and are now very robust as a result. I've got the final prototype boards on order and I'm fairly certain they contain to the last remaining electrical issue: Currently, if you smack a pair together fairly hard, the batteries will lose their connection for a split second which will reset the poi to the beginning of the first sequence. I'm almost certain the changes I've made will fix the problem once and for all biggrin
The language to actually tell the poi what colours to change to has been put through it's paces a bit more which has ironed out a few bugs.
I've made some significant progress on the GUI (the bit of software you run on your computer to tell the poi what colours you want). It needs some more work, but the ocre is there and with a bit of luck should work on Windows, Linux and the MAC!
I've fixed the button pressing properly now so you can select different sequences, reset the current sequence and hold it at the beginning, turn them on/off etc. etc.
I've made a fairly crude mold to try and make some prototype housings... which worked rather well. The first test used plastic drainpipe which is a bit too flexible to be useful. The next step will be to do the same again with Poly Carbonate (one of the toughest plastics available). If that works, I'll make a better mould which won't look as pretty as the final balls I want to make, but will be otherwise identical to the final product!
After talking to lots of you, the general consensus seemed to be that the AAA's made the poi on the light side and that a battery life of ~1-1.5 hours was on the low side. So now we're shifting towards using AA's. I've not run any proper tests yet, but the numbers suggest they will last for ~2-3 hours on the AA's and weigh a bit more too smile
I've started investigating how we'd go about building the technology into a staff!


I'm certain we'll have these out and on the shelves by October, and fairly confident that they'll actually be ready to sell a few months before that! I don't want to get people's hopes too high, but how cool would it be if we had something ready in time for PLAY? wink

Cake or Death?


*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
I guess we could stick something in the software that warns you that the frequencies are potentially harmful?

Cake or Death?


ElectricBlueGOLD Member
Now with extra strawberries
810 posts
Location: Canberra, Australia


Posted:
That sounds like a good idea.

When we are using strobe in a show we always put a warning in the program mentionaing when in the show strobe will be used so that if people have troubles with it the are prepared.

I {Heart} hand me downs and spinning in the snow.<br /><br />


LazyAngelGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,895 posts
Location: Cambridge UK


Posted:
make sure you have a disclaimer: something along the lines of:

'this product uses flashing lights, and is not suitable for use by epileptics'

also I believe there is one particular frequency that can 'trigger' epileptic fits: it might be worth finding out what is and blocking it as an option (although to be honest, most epileptics should be sensible enough not to be staring at flashing things if they feel a fit coming on)

Because ActiveAngel sounds like a feminine deodorant

Like sex, I'm much more interesting in real life than online.

'Be the change you want to see in the world around you' - Ghandi


ElectricBlueGOLD Member
Now with extra strawberries
810 posts
Location: Canberra, Australia


Posted:
Ah that is true but often people can go years and years with out having any adverse reactions or symptoms of epilepsy. Then one day Bam some thing triggers a fit. This happened to a friend of mine, he was 25 when he we first diagnosed. This is why people need to be particularly carefully.



I think a warning of some kind even if it is just in the instructions would be a good idea. That way performers will take this in to consideration when performing as well.



Pretty much every computer game i have for my nintendo DS has a small warning at the beginning. Even if it is just to cover there arses.



Oh also in my opinion a general warning would probably be better than blocking frequencies because from what i remember people can have sensitivities to a whole different range of them. But yeah that is just my opinion.
EDITED_BY: Blueberry (1190793273)

I {Heart} hand me downs and spinning in the snow.<br /><br />


*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
I don't think it's a good idea to block them outright. If someone wants to spin them in their own home, why should they be disadvantaged? But I definitely think a warning is a good idea. There's already going to be some fairly hefty warnings on the packaging making it clear that these things are bright and looking / staring right into the beam of light is going to damage your eyes. That, and a warning that playing with these toys is likely to start crowds forming so if you're agoraphobic, you'd better buy something less brilliant wink

Cake or Death?


MandSILVER Member
Keeper of the Spitfire
2,317 posts
Location: Calgary Canada


Posted:
 Written by: LazyAngel


although to be honest, most epileptics should be sensible enough not to be staring at flashing things if they feel a fit coming on



Yup I'd pretty much go with this statement.
First time seizures are a completely different animal, and if we wanted to stop potential epileptics having them, we would have to prevent people getting overly stressed, overly tired, overly hot, angry etc, as these are all common triggers.

Infact, photosensitive epilepsy isn't as common as most people would think. Of all diagnosed epileptics, only between 3 and 5 percent are known to be photosensitive (and that percentage includes me).

I may be completely wrong in this, but I'm thinking that the strobe pattern would really only give off the intense strobe effect when the poi are held still. Spitfire has a set of led flashy spinny things that strobe. I can't look at them to turn them on, but once they're moving I can both spin them and watch them with no problems.

Most epileptics know their triggers, and photosensitivity is a very obvious one. If something's flashing very brightly, and looks like it might be strobing, then any photosensitive epileptic with half a brain wouldn't wander over to take a closer look.

 Written by: Hyperlight

I don't think it's a good idea to block them outright. If someone wants to spin them in their own home, why should they be disadvantaged? But I definitely think a warning is a good idea.



John, yes this sounds like a really good idea.

Lets steal a spaceship and head for the sun, and shoot the stars with a lemonade ray gun.


Invader XanSILVER Member
Your friendly neighbourhood mad scientist
479 posts
Location: Over the hills and far away, United Kingdom


Posted:
 Written by: *HyperLight

That, and a warning that playing with these toys is likely to start crowds forming so if you're agoraphobic, you'd better buy something less brilliant wink



ubblol

"Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art."
--Konstantin Stanislavisky


pounceSILVER Member
All the neurotic makings of America's lesser known sweetheart
9,831 posts
Location: body in Las Vegas, heart all around the world, USA


Posted:
for legal purposes, you want to put a warning on the packaging just to avoid lawsuits. cause it only takes one idiot to sue you who knows strobe effects can bring on seizures but decides to look anyway cause you didn't warn them ubblol

I was always scared with my mother's obsession with the good scissors. It made me wonder if there were evil scissors lurking in the house somewhere.

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.

**giggles**


LazyAngelGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,895 posts
Location: Cambridge UK


Posted:
Mand: totally with you on that one: as an epileptic myself (no fits for years, touch wood) I find it much harder to look at still objects, and funnily enough, lots of close black/white lines. I get really annoyed when I see those strobing things cyclists use on the roads.

/offtopic

Because ActiveAngel sounds like a feminine deodorant

Like sex, I'm much more interesting in real life than online.

'Be the change you want to see in the world around you' - Ghandi


firestartedGOLD Member
member
28 posts
Location: Ireland


Posted:
Hi,

I live in Ireland and would like to buy a set of Hyperlights, I've read that they won't be released until the end of October, what I'd like to know is how much ballpark will they cost so I can save up.

I've gathered you've said 213 for the poi, would 240 cover the whole lot?

Thanks for all the work,
Ken

YakumoSILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
I don't know where you found that figure, I've only ever heard 'about £150 for the whole package' smile



eg: https://hyperlight.co.uk/support/faq/#HowMuch

Blinded by Hyperlights, please donate generously grin


TheBovrilMonkeySILVER Member
Liquid Cow
2,629 posts
Location: High Wycombe, England


Posted:
I'm guessing that's £150 in euros.



firestarted, the £$¥€ characters are really helpful sometimes wink
EDITED_BY: TheBovrilMonkey (1191804256)

But there's no sense crying over every mistake. You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.


*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
£150 is indeed the figure I've been quoting people... and that includes everything. Google says that £150 is ~€216 smile

Cake or Death?


MotleyGOLD Member
addict
434 posts
Location: UK


Posted:
Happy Birthday Jon, have a pint of binger geer on me beerchug

Sorry offtopic

Actually, can I have a set of hyperlights for your birthday.... thats the way it works isnt it wink

hug

*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
My birthday's tomorrow, but cheers.. and it just so happens I have a batch sitting here wink

Cake or Death?


GeezaGOLD Member
addict
694 posts
Location: Leeds, United Kingdom


Posted:
really? Its my 23rd tomorrow. Wednesday is a rubbish day for a bday. Want to treat me?

TastesLikePurpleGOLD Member
addict
498 posts
Location: Nottingham, United Kingdom


Posted:
if someone has already asked this then o well... what happens if the break? *cough* G *cough* cheaper to fix than buy a new pair? and how would they be fixed? would the need to be sent back?

Thoughts arrive like butterflies...


*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
I meant a batch of Binga Geer (not Hyperlights) ...but you're very welcome to have some - 7.5% ABV Ginger Beer = good for the soul wink

G's are prototypes and there's a known fault with one of the components we used in those early models. Naturally, we're using something tougher and more resilient for the final versions. I'm not 100% certain how we'll handle warranties, but it'll probably be a case of sending them back to base and if it's a manufacturing fault (i.e. you've not tipped water all over them, set fire to them, run over them with a car or something like that) we'll fix them. They're almost certainly easier to fix than for a whole new pair!

Cake or Death?


_G_SILVER Member
enthusiast
372 posts
Location: Paris, United Kingdom


Posted:
It wasn't me, I didn't break them ubbangel

You can spend hours playing with minutes!

I have seen the light! ........ It was purple <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Fast, late deliveries!


SkattoGOLD Member
Walking on whims...
687 posts
Location: Eastbourne, UK


Posted:
That's funny, I don't have any hyperlights.

Can someone cure me?

Skatto

"Fly like a mouse,
Run like a cushion,
Be the small bookcase."

For goodness sake, don't aggravate the otters!!!


ElectricBlueGOLD Member
Now with extra strawberries
810 posts
Location: Canberra, Australia


Posted:
So has any one had any luck locating the glow program?
I would really love to have a play but only if yah have the time to find it.
Thanks smile,
Blue

I {Heart} hand me downs and spinning in the snow.<br /><br />


GeezaGOLD Member
addict
694 posts
Location: Leeds, United Kingdom


Posted:
any word on release date. Are we looking at november now or are we still on track for this month?

*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
With me being ill for a week and various other commitments, it's looking closer to November at the the moment frown

Cake or Death?


Invader XanSILVER Member
Your friendly neighbourhood mad scientist
479 posts
Location: Over the hills and far away, United Kingdom


Posted:
I trust you're feeling better now, man?

"Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art."
--Konstantin Stanislavisky


splinterificGOLD Member
enthusiast
248 posts
Location: Ireland


Posted:
aww i have a cold.. jon you infected me frown stupid emailed virus.... :P

jo_rhymesSILVER Member
Momma Bear
4,525 posts
Location: Telford, Shrops, United Kingdom


Posted:
I know what I am asking Father Christmas for this year biggrin

Hoppers are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.


MireneyeSILVER Member
enthusiast
276 posts
Location: Sweden


Posted:
 Written by: jo_rhymes


I know what I am asking Father Christmas for this year biggrin



In the same spirit I will ask my cute little Wallet. He's such a nice, wealthy guy. ubbloco

hope that you are well now Jon =) hug

LazyAngelGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,895 posts
Location: Cambridge UK


Posted:
me too! wink

Because ActiveAngel sounds like a feminine deodorant

Like sex, I'm much more interesting in real life than online.

'Be the change you want to see in the world around you' - Ghandi


jo_rhymesSILVER Member
Momma Bear
4,525 posts
Location: Telford, Shrops, United Kingdom


Posted:
well my wallet isn't as nice and wealthy, so Father Chrimbo will have to help me out on this one! Last year he got me a really nice pink set of kitchen scales! x

Hoppers are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.


FireNixBRONZE Member
old hand
904 posts
Location: India/Bristol


Posted:
How do we go about ordering Jon?
Whats the price?
How many being released?
Can we pre-order?
Q's, Q's!!

Feel the Flame
Phirenix


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