For a career fair at my former high school, I built an interactive demo setup to showcase the possibilities of the ICT Media Technology program. The setup consisted of a Bluefin display with a built-in BrightSign HS145, which was connected to various sensors and hardware via a Nexmosphere XN-185 controller.
Because I wanted to showcase as many different techniques as possible, I built six separate demos rather than one large system. My process started at the basics by first testing the sensors via Tera Term. Using the manuals, I examined exactly what data was being sent and received.
Once that communication was stable, I built a simple test setup and only then worked on the branding. I was already familiar with controlling LED strips, RFID and the Air Gestures Sensor, but the colour and temperature sensors were new to me. It was a great opportunity to get hands-on with new hardware within the BrightSign environment.
The setup consisted of a mix of components, including a temperature sensor, a colour sensor and two physical LED strips. I also added an RFID scanner for product recognition and an Air Gesture sensor.
On location, the RFID and Air Gesture sensors unfortunately failed to cooperate. I kept them as an option in the menu regardless, so I could explain to visitors what should have happened and how the technology works behind the scenes.
The demo turned out to be the perfect conversation starter throughout the evening. Many students listened attentively to explanations of how the technology actually works. They found it fascinating that such a small sensor can recognise the colour of a can. I would then explain that the sensor itself only sends a value between 0 and 360, but that the BrightSign player translates that data almost instantly into a colour on screen.
Not everyone was solely interested in the hardware; one student was particularly drawn to designing the on-screen interface. I referred them to the Media Design programme and the open day. I was also a point of contact for parents, who mainly had questions about what you can do after completing the programme, such as progressing to higher education.
Photography: GJKL Photos (cover foto)