ExpeditInvaders: Light up your Expedit

Jules Yap·
Lighting
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IH ExpeditInvaders one 728724
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IH ExpeditInvaders one 728724
IH ExpeditInvaders two 731217

Materials: Expedit Bookcase

Description: An Expedit that changes colours according to your moods? Why not? Michu added some LED mod­ules controlled by an Arduino behind the bookcase and now, it practically dances with 10 color sets (RGB, Rasta, CGA, Brazil, Fizz, Kitty, Neon, Lantern, Lem­ming, LeBron) and 6 ani­ma­tion modes (ran­dom, solid, ordered, check­board, weird, weirdtwo).

IH ExpeditInvaders two keyboard 735713
IH ExpeditInvaders modules installed 738603

Best thing yet, you can change the color set or ani­ma­tion mode with a flick of your toes on the PS2 key­board attached under the bookcase. The key­board has a spe­cial key map installed, if a key on the left side is pressed the color set change, if a key on the right side is pressed the ani­ma­tion will change.

For steps on how to create this, click the ExpeditInvaders.

~ Michu, Switzerland

Jules Yap
Latest posts by Jules Yap (see all)

7 Responses

  1. Everything and nothing is a hack. I think the result looks really nice and this project seems to be very beginner friendly.

    The real hack part (aka selling point) is that you can change the animation mode and color set with the tap of your foot, which is quite unique.

    Reply

  3. I think it’s called a “hack” because it’s well… a hack job. Overall the execution lacks class and doesn’t have that integrated feel. It’s just a bunch of wires running on the shelves and a full keyboard (!) glued underneath it… quite horrible.

    Reply

  4. How is this an IKEA hack?

    No IKEA item was modified at all. Putting some lights inside some shelves isn’t a hack. Unless the lights were repurposed IKEA lights.

    Let me put some multicolor candles inside the EXPEDIT and call it a hack too.

    Reply

  5. All you need is an Arduino Board (doesn’t mat­ter which one, can be an old Duemi­lanove or a new Leonardo), a PS2 Keyboard, a 5v Power supply and some LED’s. If you need further information just send me an email at
    michu at neophob dot com.

    cheers

    Reply

  6. Looks cool,but for people like me that are completely out of touch with technology, can you help point me in the direction of which items to purchase to get the full effect?

    You mention “Arduino” which I’m not familiar with, and when I look on google there’s so many to choose from.

    Reply

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