White Wing Logic
Integrated Microcomputer Hardware and Software SystemsAn interactive lighting installation on Tower Bridge, controlled by
Bluetooth
sensors on London Bridge.
Feb 8th Until Feb 16th 2007
Part of the Switched On London festival.
This is part of a week-long lighting festival, Switched-On London, and is a collaboration
between Jason Bruges Studio,
White Wing Logic, and Traxon Lighting. It is running from dusk (5:30ish) until dawn, Feb
8th until Feb 16th.
The technical stuff...
Bluetooth devices detected towards each end of London Bridge will appear as coloured
pixels on the
corresponding end of the Tower Bridge upper walkway, and if they are subsequently detected
at the
other end, the pixel will move across at a speed proportional to the speed of movement
(walking/running/driving etc.). The colour and initial position is derived from the
Bluetooth
address, and so will always be the same for any given device.
During rush-hour it will probably get rather swamped, but if you're in the area later on,
you
should be able to have some fun if you are carrying a Bluetooth device...
Just stand around 1/4 of the way from one end of London Bridge, turn on your Bluetooth
device,
ensure it is discoverable and wait for 'your' pixel to appear on Tower Bridge (will take
up to 20
seconds to appear), then walk/run/cycle towards the other end & watch it move....
The more technical stuff.....
Each Bluetooth sensor performs an enquiry scan every 15 seconds, and then relays the
data over an RF link to the controller on Tower Bridge. The data transmitted is not the
actual MAC address, but an XOR of part of the MAC with the device class. This is done
primarily for ease of testing as it allows arbitary values to be generated for testing by
programming the class, which is easier than changing the bluetooth MAC.
It also has a side-effect of anonymising the data, so the MAC cannot be derived from the
transmitted data, whilst maintaining a unique (for all intents and purposes) number
for each device.
The colour of the pixel is picked from a list, indexed by the lowest byte of the
bluetooth MAC address, XOR the lowest byte of the device class. ( note that the colour
list may get tweaked from time to time so don't be surprised if your colour changes on
later visits...
The distance of the pixel from either end of Tower Bridge is the second-lowest byte of the
MAC, XOR the second-lowest byte of the device class, MOD 30.
The DMX controller is a prototype of a forthcoming
WWL product aimed at interactive lighting installations,
acting as an intelligent <almost-anything>-to-dmx controller in a small DIN housing.
More details soon but email if this may be of
interest.
Links :
http://www.switchedonlondon.co.uk/ Festival Organisers (Note the project description here describes a slightly earlier incarnation of the project where London Bridge was to be lit, but this was changed at a late stage due to logistical access problems)
http://www.jasonbruges.com/ Concept, installation, logistics, diplomacy
http://www.whitewing.co.uk Bluetooth detection
and tracking concept, bluetooth sensor & DMX controller electronics &
software.
(aka http://www.electricstuff.co.uk).
http://www.traxontechnologies.com/ Lighting
Engadget feature - "The World's larges Bluetooth device"
Contact : mike@whitewing.co.uk
All photos copyright Mike Harrison 2007. High-res versions available on request.
Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnq1TBefX7Q
Remote-controlled bridge : remotebridge.avi
Some more pics :
