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Tiny volumetric display

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Re: Tiny volumetric display

#111

Post by 8n4vidtmkvmk »

djmips wrote: post #63
crazygringo wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not a new idea -- they're called swept-volume volumetric displays, and they've been around for a long time [1]. But they're mostly kind of just toys. When you're limited to transparent glowing surfaces and you can't even touch them, there's really not a whole ton you can do. You can see a much larger non-spinning version made of LEDs suspended on cables [2] and it's very cool, but the novelty kind of wears off a…

For [2] it does not look swept. Appears static.

They said as much.

Re: Tiny volumetric display

#112

Post by crazygringo »

noduerme wrote: post #83
crazygringo wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not a new idea -- they're called swept-volume volumetric displays, and they've been around for a long time [1]. But they're mostly kind of just toys. When you're limited to transparent glowing surfaces and you can't even touch them, there's really not a whole ton you can do. You can see a much larger non-spinning version made of LEDs suspended on cables [2] and it's very cool, but the novelty kind of wears off a…

The killer app is clearly sending messages via R2-D2.

This... is true.

It would actually make a fantastic Princess Leia message toy!

Re: Tiny volumetric display

#113

Post by BenjiWiebe »

mistercow wrote: post #25
wvh wrote: post #7

Creative. I probably have the persistence and interest to pull something like this off, but I lack the fantasy to come up with such cool projects. Luckily there's the internet to see what impressive stuff people come up with.

Tom 7 mentioned a thing in one of his videos, which is to keep a list, and write down every idea when you think of it, regardless of how stupid it is. Winnowing is for later. That way, when you have the energy to work on a project, you don’t have to waste it on coming up with an idea. It really makes a huge difference in what you can get done with side projects. You probably have more interesting ideas than you think…

I have the inverse problem. Do you have any advice for me?

I have no problem coming up with, and remembering, cool projects. I just rarely have the energy or the lasting enthusiasm to actually follow through.

Re: Tiny volumetric display

#114

Post by julianpye »

jacquesm wrote: post #106
julianpye wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

His work is even more inspirational after reading this rant, as he describes the therapeutic aspect of his projects and his base emotions. Still, I can't help but excuse my inferior output by admiring his incredible fine motor skills and pre-existing expertise in electronics.

Those fine motor skills will go though, use them while you have them! Especially for fine soldering work you need a very steady hand and that which used to be trivial suddenly is a real challenge.

Indeed! His soldering work is of the highest art.

Re: Tiny volumetric display

#115

Post by drcode »

crazygringo wrote: post #20
twoodfin wrote: post #3

One of those brilliant ideas that seems obvious in retrospect. Given that the results are so compelling even when pulled together by hand out of relatively primitive discrete components, I’m wondering why we shouldn’t expect to see full color, high resolution versions from every random 7-letter drop shipper on Amazon next Christmas?

It's not a new idea -- they're called swept-volume volumetric displays, and they've been around for a long time [1]. But they're mostly kind of just toys. When you're limited to transparent glowing surfaces and you can't even touch them, there's really not a whole ton you can do. You can see a much larger non-spinning version made of LEDs suspended on cables [2] and it's very cool, but the novelty kind of wears off a…

The innovation is spinning the entire computer, instead of just the display, reducing complexity

Re: Tiny volumetric display

#116

Post by enva2712 »

sowbug wrote: post #53

A couple ideas for improvement. If you have extra identical motors and disassemble two, you can fashion a rotating power transmission system from the brushes in two assemblies. You sacrifice two motors for each unit, but it's a perfect fit and very reliable (with a cap and rectifier), and you don't have to worry about batteries anymore. The rectifier also provides a signal that the assembly has completed a rotation,…

If the drive motor was asynchronous you could use the inductive windings on the rotor to power your rotating electronics, but the phase difference may get pretty extreme

Re: Tiny volumetric display

#117

Post by dekhn »

drcode wrote: post #115
crazygringo wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not a new idea -- they're called swept-volume volumetric displays, and they've been around for a long time [1]. But they're mostly kind of just toys. When you're limited to transparent glowing surfaces and you can't even touch them, there's really not a whole ton you can do. You can see a much larger non-spinning version made of LEDs suspended on cables [2] and it's very cool, but the novelty kind of wears off a…

The innovation is spinning the entire computer, instead of just the display, reducing complexity

It seems more likely that a mechanical engineer would end up using a slip ring, so the computer doesn't need to spin.

Re: Tiny volumetric display

#118

Post by dekhn »

jacquesm wrote: post #103
tarikjn wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have the reverse issue, I am constantly coming up with creative ideas, so that by the time I am done building idea A prototype v1 (something like what you see in this video) or v2, idea B comes along and distracts me from seeing idea A all the way through. And when the persistence and discipline is there, bills need to be paid, and the distraction is not idea B, but merely some mundane work.

I solve it like this: when at work the soldering iron is in the garage. That little barrier helps a lot when temptation to tinker strikes. One thing that I really like about this site is that the creator spends a ton of time on documenting it all. I am usually so busy with projects I don't get around to it. Another problem is that, especially for larger projects, that you need to store and maintain them. And that get…

Interesting. My electronics work-bench is right next to my work/personal computer, so when I block on work stuff I can switch to doing a little on my electronics projects. It's made me much more productive.

Re: Tiny volumetric display

#119

Post by o11c »

yafbum wrote: post #77
o11c wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or just ... don't center, and change the math to acknowledge that the LEDs aren't centered?

There's another similar thing needing correction, which is that the LEDs near the center sweep a much smaller volume than the ones at the edge, and should be dimmed in order to yield equivalent luminance. LEDs describing tiny circles very close to the center would need to be dimmed a lot since they'd essentially be stationary. Wouldn't it be better then to sweep slightly larger circles at the middle anyways?

If we're going there, note also that all the LEDs not on the edge are blocked by other LEDs (or the board) part of the time; LEDs on the edge are visible even past 90°.

Re: Tiny volumetric display

#120

Post by jacquesm »

dekhn wrote: post #118
jacquesm wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I solve it like this: when at work the soldering iron is in the garage. That little barrier helps a lot when temptation to tinker strikes. One thing that I really like about this site is that the creator spends a ton of time on documenting it all. I am usually so busy with projects I don't get around to it. Another problem is that, especially for larger projects, that you need to store and maintain them. And that get…

Interesting. My electronics work-bench is right next to my work/personal computer, so when I block on work stuff I can switch to doing a little on my electronics projects. It's made me much more productive.

I'm just too easily distracted. I start on a thing that I think will take five minutes, next thing I realize that it's 7 am, birds are tweeting and there is a stone cold cup of tea sitting next to me and a bunch of non-priority stuff done (but it's so much more fun...).

Most dangerous times: when the administration needs to be brought up to date for the tax man. Then I really have to force myself. Fortunately I've been able to off-load most of that but even the little bit that remains is enough to get me to spend 30 hours on something else to avoid 1/2 an hour of work.

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