How to: Make your own laser graffiti system
Posted under: Graffiti is for some a art form (me included). For some is just visual noise that fills the walls of our streets. For some is entertainment for others pollution. Most of the critics regarding grafittis are based on the fact that graffiti is done, mostly, on buildings without the permission of the owners and they are costly to be removed. When done in public property all tax payers end up paying for something that, sometimes, is nothing but a spray tag.
This is more of a serious matter than it appears on a first glance: freedom of speech issues are raised, can graffiti be considered art (the work of Bansky comes immediately to mind), not to mention that graffiti is used, not only in the US, by gangs to mark they territory.
But what if you could make graffiti that would be ephemeral, i.e., that would go away with a flick of the wrist? Now you can! Graffiti Research Lab has been testing this system for some time with spectacular results. Better still: Everyone now has access to the software (the Grafitti Research Lab team is a big advocate of the open source system). Either you are a code geek or just a regular user, G.R.L. has the thing just for you: the code for you to mess with and then compile or the plain and simple installer that you can put on your computer. (If you are a code geek you want to mess with it right now, right? Get it here for XCode 2.4 or greater)
What do you need to start playing around?
- A fast laptop that you can connect to an external monitor/television (dual video card)
- A video projector
- A web camera
- A green laser pen
If you have access to these all you have to do is to install the software, follow the instructions and you are ready to start tagging your room walls, your outside walls, trees around you, you name it.
Keep in mind two important things: The more powerful your video projector and your laser pen are the bigger the distance you can use your Laser Tag System. Most importantly if your laser pen is really that powerful you should NEVER point it to anyone’s face.
Download the Mac Installer or the Windows Installer.
You can see the first version of the Laser Tag System working on this video made by the G.R.L.
If you run into any troubles trying to make it work, Theodore Watson has a great how to right here. I would also ask to all of you to see what the Grafitti Research Lab is doing with their newest project The EyeWriter Initiative that is using technology to promote health reform in the U.S., bring awareness about ALS and help others. This is what technology should be used for.
What do you think? Are you giving this one a try? Let me know on the comments!