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?


KneelSILVER Member
journeyman
80 posts
Location: Dublin,Ireland


Posted:
hows about hyperlight oxyegen?u cud glow on the inside lol

-Niall-


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


Posted:
But I want them noowwww. :-(

Skatto

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

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


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


Posted:
Patience is a virtue... although now that I'm back from a two week holiday in a remote part of Scotland, I can get cracking again smile

Cake or Death?


SkulduggeryGOLD Member
Pirate Pixie Crew Captain
8,428 posts
Location: Wales


Posted:
on a hoop! Yippeeeee

Feed me Chocolate!!! Feed me NOW!


squarefishSILVER Member
(...trusty steed of the rodeo midget...)
403 posts
Location: the state of flux, Ireland


Posted:
This is a serious question. Malcom and Jon I am interested to hear your thoughts



It has been rumored that HOP is going to be selling these.

Is this going to be an exclusive contract?

Will we be able to still purchase them direct?



I DO NOT want to have to pay for the product *PLUS* shipping to Nz from the UK and *PLUS A HOP PROFIT MARGIN* and *PLUS*shipping back to Ireland if I can just get them direct! frown



Quote*-- Hyperlights, ......rumour has it HoP will be selling them when they're released... confused

..--*Quote



? true/not true?

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


Posted:
I have discussed this with Malcolm (ages ago and only very briefly via pm) but I / we have not made any firm plans one way or another. I'd have to discuss it further with him before making more of a comment one way or the other. I do however agree that shipping them out to NZ only to ship them back to Ireland would be an expensive way to operate.

I don't intend to make HoP the sole distributor so there's a good chance you'd be able to get them from somewhere closer. This might well be direct from the website. To be honest though, I'm more focussed on other parts of the project for the time being.

Is that enough of an answer? smile

Cake or Death?


squarefishSILVER Member
(...trusty steed of the rodeo midget...)
403 posts
Location: the state of flux, Ireland


Posted:
Wheeee!
Thank you Jon!
All hail the bright and flashy!
(kneels down before the lights )
M.

VampyricAcidSILVER Member
veteran
1,286 posts
Location: My House, United Kingdom


Posted:
Joins squarefish

" meditate ubblove ALL HAIL JON, ALL HAIL JON! ubblove meditate "

Proudly Owned By The BMVC

Are You Sniffing My Mitten?


Mr ChutneySILVER Member
Tosser
1,712 posts
Location: Bristol,UK


Posted:
Shut up you two.. he'll only become smug and complacent and take longer to finish them... get on with it tongue

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


Posted:
Chutney.. put down the whip I'm going as fast as I can!!

Should have some time this evening to get some more stuff done. You should see the pretty housing designs - looks fab! biggrin

Cake or Death?


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


Posted:
I'm getting more and more excited at the prospect at owning a pair of hyperlights as each day passes bounce

keep up the good work Jon! There'll be muffins in it for you smile

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


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


Posted:
Ooo i am very excited too.

I had not thought about it much but when i was explaining them to a friend of mine I realised how much i'm looking forward to mucking around making cool program sequances. Eeep so my inner computer nerd is also very excited.

Do i remember sombody posting a progam that was a simulation of the poi an the gui for the code program some where? I would very muchly like to have another look at that.

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


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


Posted:
mt.beer posted a 'glow' java program which takes the little files you write to program hyperlights and turns it into a pretty display.. Can't find the link at the moment though frown

Muffins eh? *grin* biggrin

Cake or Death?


splinterificGOLD Member
enthusiast
248 posts
Location: Ireland


Posted:
have the file at home, ill try dig it up later smile dammit jon... move to dublin biggrin

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


Posted:
Maybe.. if Hyperlights sell enough to support me wink

Cake or Death?


MynciBRONZE Member
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom


Posted:
I think they could if/when you can increase your range to include other props. wink

I've only seen 1 set of glo diablo handsticks and never seen any glow devil stick handsticks wink may be a market there for you (I don't want them I'm waiting for a quality staff from anyone but they may be simple things to increase your selling power) we'd probably sell them if you did on our stall / shop

A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.


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


Posted:
Interesting ideas for the future that's for sure. Not convinced I could fit all the electronics of the hyperlight technology into the handle for a stick, but perhaps using a cut down version; standard LEDs and a single AAA battery... hmmmm.. *ponders* smile

Cake or Death?


GeezaGOLD Member
addict
694 posts
Location: Leeds, United Kingdom


Posted:
 Written by: *HyperLight


Interesting ideas for the future that's for sure. Not convinced I could fit all the electronics of the hyperlight technology into the handle for a stick, but perhaps using a cut down version; standard LEDs and a single AAA battery... hmmmm.. *ponders* smile



Just have all the electronics and stuff in the middle of the staff with wires doing to led's at the ends. Or in fatter handles in diabolo/devil sticks (probably easier said than done!)

woo hu, october is neally upon us. They best be done by my bday on 10th, or else!

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


Posted:
Staffs would have the electronics in the ends because putting them anywhere else would reduce the battery life or make it impossible to take them out to charge. Diablo sticks would probably be in the handles as you've suggested.

...but lets not get ahead of ourselves - first thing is to get the poi finished and on the market smile

Cake or Death?


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


Posted:
Dude, quick question...

Is it possible to sequence Hyperlights to flicker so fast you get a strobe effect? smile Just curious...

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


splinterificGOLD Member
enthusiast
248 posts
Location: Ireland


Posted:
yes it is smile

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


Posted:
Marvellous! biggrin

Heh... As if I needed another reason to want a pair! rolleyes

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


decemberscalmSILVER Member
member
49 posts
Location: Cypress (Houston), Texas, USA


Posted:
Is it still likely to cost 160 Euro's? I think thats about 230 USD right now.

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


Posted:
Yeah, you can strobe at up to 500Hz smile

...and they'll cost ~£150ish ~= 214euros ~= $300

Cake or Death?


GeezaGOLD Member
addict
694 posts
Location: Leeds, United Kingdom


Posted:
 Written by: *HyperLight


Yeah, you can strobe at up to 500Hz smile




Is that enough to cause epileptic fits? If so then can you also mimic the bbc's olympic games 2012 video of the diver?

_G_SILVER Member
enthusiast
372 posts
Location: Paris, United Kingdom


Posted:
I broke ed de Hyperlights frown

Jon, Could do with having a chat with you sometime soon. Do you have some time?

G.

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!


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


Posted:
No idea about epilipsy, but that's definitely a concern with Hyperlights!

I'll be in tonight if you want to chat via msn or something, or I can pm you my phone number if you don't already have it? Not to worry about breakage; they're prototypes after all smile

Cake or Death?


PinkNigelPinker than thou
336 posts
Location: A little pink world all my own..


Posted:
7 - 15Hz is the dangerous range for photo-induced epilepsy..

A wise man once said: "You have two ears and one mouth, therefore you should shut the censored up and listen" (though, to be fair, he might not've put it _quite_ like that..)


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


Posted:
Might be worth putting something in the sequencing software, so you can't use that frequency range...? Just a thought.

(Sorry Mr Light! I'm not trying to give you more stuff to do!)

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


decemberscalmSILVER Member
member
49 posts
Location: Cypress (Houston), Texas, USA


Posted:
Never go to a light show if you have epelepsy ^,^;

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