everything old is new again, and toys will be toys
I saw this back in the day and it inspired me to build this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x034jVB1avs
I hacked together some game jam games with it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd7A6TEthPQ
Alexis Ohanian commented on my video, which was awesome:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF_OCvjq3ps
I eventually built a laser drawing system too. I used a 532 nanometer optical filter taped to a webcam to isolate green laser pointer light, then drew a sampled approximation of the shapes. I recorded that somewhere, but never uploaded it...
In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't get in trouble for this.
An absolute blast from the past, thank you for unlocking the memories of me reading these cool projects way back when!
I knew Michi through the Metalab, our hacker space in Vienna. Originally the idea seems to have been from the Graffiti Research Lab, which is also what I've linked to on my page and in the repo's Readme.
I think the version that Michi used was a MacOS app (not sure which framework), but I've always wanted to make it a web app. So all you need now is a projector, a laser pointer, and a laptop (with a camera).
I've already tried a few fun setups (eg using the iPhone's camera or using AirPlay connected to the projector). It's quite flexible.
Let me know if you end up using it and please share videos / photos and I'd be happy to put them up.
I know the original is old-skool cool, which I think makes this a fun project.
I'll try to set it up at the next CCC (2027) - if you see me there, come say Hi (I'll probably be in a banana costume).
Graffiti, fundamentally, is a defacement of public property as a form of artistic self expression. To that end, why not combine this with a laser engraver instead of a laser pointer?
Imagine hooking this up and then literally carving your graffiti into the side of a brick building. Or burning it into the paint on a metal container car.
Obviously such a thing has the potential for serious bodily harm and could start building or wild fires inadvertently, to say nothing of the energy consumption requirements such a laser engraver would necessitate.
Counterpoint: rule of cool.
"...rule of cool?"