The Rainbow Box

Project Overview:

The Rainbow Bow is a captivating and interactive installation that offers users a delightful experience with light and prisms. Inside the box, users can engage with prisms, and two buttons allow them to control the angle of these prisms. This versatile box can be enjoyed individually or with multiple players.

A unique feature of the Rainbow Bow is its timing mechanism. Lifting a switch initiates a 30-second timer displayed on the adjacent screen, accompanied by beautiful music. Once the timer elapses, a question appears: "Do you see the rainbow?" Users can respond by pressing the 'Y' or 'N' button.

Interactive Elements:

• Light and Prisms: Users can manipulate light through prisms inside the box, creating beautiful and mesmerizing visual effects.

  

  
  

• Timing and Question: The timer and question feature adds an element of surprise and engagement. Users must decide whether they perceive a rainbow during the experience.

User Interaction:

• If the answer is 'Yes,' the Rainbow Bow acknowledges that different people have varying interpretations of rainbows. It clarifies that the installation can only represent part of the rainbow's elements, not the complete natural phenomenon.

• If the answer is 'No,' the screen responds by displaying a randomly selected rainbow picture, adding an element of visual diversity to the experience.

Project Development:

1. Button Setup:

• The project begins with setting up the buttons and establishing serial communication to transmit button values to P5.js. When a button is pressed, the sensor's value transitions from 0 to 1.

  
  

  

2. Timing and Question Interaction:

• The buttons are interconnected with the screen to facilitate the timing and question component. A switch activates the timer, and the 'Y' and 'N' buttons allow users to respond to the question. The red button signifies not seeing a rainbow, while the green button represents seeing one. When the 'Yes' button is pressed, P5.js randomly selects and displays a rainbow picture. If the 'No' button is selected, the screen provides a prompt.

  
  

  

3. Testing Motors

   two DC motors Motors are used to turn the two prisms.

   
   

4. Building the Rainbow Box:

• The core of the Rainbow Bow comprises two DC motors that control the movement of the prisms, along with four light sources. Magnets attached to the box's sides enable users to reposition the light sources. The left button controls the prism on the right, while the right button manipulates the prism on the left. Pressing the button rotates the prism until the button is released.

  
  

  

Play Testing

The tiny rainbow made in the box

Making a rainbow in the box

Display View

Playtesting Video

Final Thoughts:

The Rainbow Bow project has fueled my enthusiasm for exploring alternative methods of creating rainbows and facilitating user interactions with the rainbow-generation process. I aspire to expand my knowledge of motors, delving into their nuances, including turning angles, speed, and direction. Lighting also holds my interest, and I aim to explore variables such as brightness, light angle, light type, stream size, and shadow, as they can profoundly influence visual experiences and unlock new possibilities.

The Rainbow Bow is a testament to the potential for merging art, technology, and user interaction to create unique and engaging installations. This project serves as a stepping stone for further exploration and innovation in the realms of light, prisms, and user engagement.