29 ms·

This is very cool and I know a LOT of people who would buy and wear these. If you productized these (possibly make them rechargeable and simply way to program t

This is very cool and I know a LOT of people who would buy and wear these. If you productized these (possibly make them rechargeable and simply way to program the LEDs) they would definitely sell.

mysteria 3y ago
I'm not sure about the rechargeable aspect, but for programmability you could use a small IR receiver placed in the center of the LED array. You really only need a one way data transmission and something like Bluetooth is overkill.
- barake 3y ago
  Could use an optical sensor like the Timex Datalink watches from the 90s[1] Could set the earrings on a phone screen and transfer the patterns over. Sounds like a fun project. 1: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Datalink https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Datalink
  - zokier 3y ago
    LEDs are actually sensitive to light themselves so with some wizardy you might not even need separate sensor
  - mattegan 3y ago
    I love simple light-based data transmission stuff. I've seen it included in things like guitar pedals that have just a few config bits that someone might want to change infrequently. An app to change some settings can be as simple as just a little webpage! So simple! Here's a (tiny) demo of this for my PCB business card project from years ago [1]. If IIRC this proof of concept was as simple as using a phototransitor on a GPIO connected to the UART peripheral with a very low baud rate. [1]: https://www.matt.egan.me/entry/electronic-business-card-pt3#light-transmission-demo https://www.matt.egan.me/entry/electronic-business-card-pt3#...
- joshspankit 3y ago
  Now that you made that connection: Concerts with audience-worn LED bracelets regularly shoot out LED floodlights to the IR sensors on each wrist. Being able to do something similar on people’s ears could be cool.
- jononor 3y ago
  If you use visible light, then one can use a phone (screen) to blink the pattern to transmit data. An LED can also be used as the sensing element, just need access to both anode and cathode. Charge the LED and measure the discharge time - it is dependent on light in.
zokier 3y ago
the weight might start getting bit of a problem here too? Hiding the battery somewhere behind ear could help, but ruins the conceptual elegance
- petesergeant 3y ago
  Hairclip the battery with tiny wires behind the ear. You could put the controller there too if you wanted something fancier
- crote 3y ago
  Probably not worth the effort. Some women wear pretty large earrings[0] without too much trouble, after all. [0]: https://www.regalrose.co.uk/products/glory-huge-star-hoop-earrings-gold https://www.regalrose.co.uk/products/glory-huge-star-hoop-ea...
  - zokier 3y ago
    Not without any trouble though https://www.self.com/story/heavy-earrings-stretch-out-your-earlobes https://www.self.com/story/heavy-earrings-stretch-out-your-e...
    - crote 3y ago
      The patient in question wore heavy earrings for years. Wearing moderately-heavy LED earrings every once in a blue moon isn't comparable to that.
  - folmar 3y ago
    Usually they are large but surprisingly light, made from very thin metal foil.
BHSPitMonkey 3y ago
Fortunately for the OP, that part's really easy; Simply wait for the tech news outlets to pick up this story, then sit back and wait for them to start showing up on Temu.
- portpecos 3y ago
  Like this? https://www.temu.com/2pcs-led-earrings-illuminated-with-white-stone-crown-round-earrings-multi-color-illuminated-trendy-creative-party-halloween-party-favor-christmas-gift-g-601099519894191.html https://www.temu.com/2pcs-led-earrings-illuminated-with-whit...
  - xeckr 3y ago
    Those appear to be static. The ear rings in the OP are way cooler. But damn, for 4 dollars? I didn't expect even those to be that cheap.
    - speleding 3y ago
      I just got a few for my daughter, on Ali Express they are less than $2!
    - holoduke 3y ago
      In parts. But now automate the production part. Will cost you at least 50k to get done. Not an extreme amount, but still.
  - alonsonic 3y ago
    You probably didn't watch the video. These are exactly the earrings used in the video to create the matrix LED ones. These earrings are just a fake jewel with an LED back light. The article showcases a programable LED matrix, which opens up a lot more possibilities.
littlestymaar 3y ago
I'm afraid they will eventually be mainstream, because we definitely need more e-wastes for vanity purpose…

This is very cool and I know a LOT of people who would buy and wear these. If you productized these (possibly make them rechargeable and simply way to program the LEDs) they would definitely sell.

mysteria 3y ago

I'm not sure about the rechargeable aspect, but for programmability you could use a small IR receiver placed in the center of the LED array. You really only need a one way data transmission and something like Bluetooth is overkill.

barake 3y ago
Could use an optical sensor like the Timex Datalink watches from the 90s[1] Could set the earrings on a phone screen and transfer the patterns over. Sounds like a fun project. 1: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Datalink https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Datalink
- zokier 3y ago
  LEDs are actually sensitive to light themselves so with some wizardy you might not even need separate sensor
- mattegan 3y ago
  I love simple light-based data transmission stuff. I've seen it included in things like guitar pedals that have just a few config bits that someone might want to change infrequently. An app to change some settings can be as simple as just a little webpage! So simple! Here's a (tiny) demo of this for my PCB business card project from years ago [1]. If IIRC this proof of concept was as simple as using a phototransitor on a GPIO connected to the UART peripheral with a very low baud rate. [1]: https://www.matt.egan.me/entry/electronic-business-card-pt3#light-transmission-demo https://www.matt.egan.me/entry/electronic-business-card-pt3#...
joshspankit 3y ago
Now that you made that connection: Concerts with audience-worn LED bracelets regularly shoot out LED floodlights to the IR sensors on each wrist. Being able to do something similar on people’s ears could be cool.
jononor 3y ago
If you use visible light, then one can use a phone (screen) to blink the pattern to transmit data. An LED can also be used as the sensing element, just need access to both anode and cathode. Charge the LED and measure the discharge time - it is dependent on light in.

zokier 3y ago

the weight might start getting bit of a problem here too? Hiding the battery somewhere behind ear could help, but ruins the conceptual elegance

petesergeant 3y ago
Hairclip the battery with tiny wires behind the ear. You could put the controller there too if you wanted something fancier
crote 3y ago
Probably not worth the effort. Some women wear pretty large earrings[0] without too much trouble, after all. [0]: https://www.regalrose.co.uk/products/glory-huge-star-hoop-earrings-gold https://www.regalrose.co.uk/products/glory-huge-star-hoop-ea...
- zokier 3y ago
  Not without any trouble though https://www.self.com/story/heavy-earrings-stretch-out-your-earlobes https://www.self.com/story/heavy-earrings-stretch-out-your-e...
  - crote 3y ago
    The patient in question wore heavy earrings for years. Wearing moderately-heavy LED earrings every once in a blue moon isn't comparable to that.
- folmar 3y ago
  Usually they are large but surprisingly light, made from very thin metal foil.

BHSPitMonkey 3y ago

Fortunately for the OP, that part's really easy; Simply wait for the tech news outlets to pick up this story, then sit back and wait for them to start showing up on Temu.

portpecos 3y ago
Like this? https://www.temu.com/2pcs-led-earrings-illuminated-with-white-stone-crown-round-earrings-multi-color-illuminated-trendy-creative-party-halloween-party-favor-christmas-gift-g-601099519894191.html https://www.temu.com/2pcs-led-earrings-illuminated-with-whit...
- xeckr 3y ago
  Those appear to be static. The ear rings in the OP are way cooler. But damn, for 4 dollars? I didn't expect even those to be that cheap.
  - speleding 3y ago
    I just got a few for my daughter, on Ali Express they are less than $2!
  - holoduke 3y ago
    In parts. But now automate the production part. Will cost you at least 50k to get done. Not an extreme amount, but still.
- alonsonic 3y ago
  You probably didn't watch the video. These are exactly the earrings used in the video to create the matrix LED ones. These earrings are just a fake jewel with an LED back light. The article showcases a programable LED matrix, which opens up a lot more possibilities.

littlestymaar 3y ago

I'm afraid they will eventually be mainstream, because we definitely need more e-wastes for vanity purpose…