on Toshareproject.it - curated by Bruce Sterling
*Hey, way to go with the device art, Bingy.
*Please create some instructions for a never-before-described physical object that will, if followed, will create that object. In other words, please invent some new thing and tell me how to make it.
Bing Copilot: Absolutely —let’s get inventive. Here’s a blueprint for a brand-new, never-before-seen physical object I’m calling the “LumaLoom Compass.”
✨ What It Is:
The LumaLoom Compass is a pocket-sized navigation device that points to the nearest source of ambient human joy. Think of it like a compass for good vibes—crowds laughing, music playing, street dancers performing, a campfire gathering—it subtly detects fluctuations in light, sound, and electromagnetic signatures that often correlate with collective happiness.
🛠️ Materials You’ll Need:
1× Microcontroller board (like Arduino Nano or Raspberry Pi Pico)
1× Mini directional microphone array
1× Light/color sensor (e.g., TCS34725)
1× Small EMF sensor
1× Vibration motor (like those in phones)
1× Stepper motor with a needle pointer
1× Circular 3D-printed case with transparent cover
1× Rechargeable coin battery + mini charging circuit
A pinch of glow-in-the-dark powder ✨
Transparent acrylic disc
Optional: Tiny smiley face holographic sticker (for luck)
🧭 How to Build It:
3D Print the Shell
Design a casing roughly the size of a pocket watch.
Include cutouts for sensor input and a central pivot for the needle.
Embed the glow powder into the plastic to make it gently shimmer at night.
Install Your Sensors
Place the light sensor and microphone array on opposite ends of the internal board to catch as much ambient data as possible.
Mount the EMF sensor centrally for balance.
Program the Brain
Code the microcontroller to:
Analyze surrounding light and sound levels.
Prioritize areas with mid-high frequencies of laughter, music, and light changes.
Adjust direction based on spikes in warm-light + warm-sound + low EMF noise.
Calibrate the Compass
Mount the needle to the stepper motor.
Program it to rotate and point toward the detected “joy signal.”
Add gentle haptic feedback via the vibration motor when joy is detected nearby.
Assemble and Seal
Align the acrylic disc over the face.
Stick on the holographic smiley sticker (optional but makes everyone grin).
Seal it up and test it during a stroll through a festival, park, or café street.
🌟 Final Touch:
When idle, the LumaLoom cycles through a soft rainbow glow, giving it an almost magical aura. You’ll know you’re near joy when the device vibrates and the needle spins like it’s giddy.
Shall we build a matching “mood cloaking belt” next? Or go for something wildly impractical, like a toaster that sings sea shanties while waiting to pop?
How could I use the LumaLoom Compass in everyday life?
Can you design a companion device for the LumaLoom Compass?