Living Lantern.

Living Lantern

A luminous sphere that shifts emotion when you cross the line.

Project Timeline
6 Weeks

Year
02/2026

Project Type
Group

ideation

Background

Based on a previous brainstorming exercise, we were asked to design an interactive “molecule” or exhibit product, that has input and output and can possibly be used in a future exhibit that we will create as a class.

Our group liked the idea of an interactive orb that would change states based on the users proximity. We began our brainstorming session by thinking of the tech limits we had as a group, while also thinking about what we were willing to learn.

Design goals

Encourage user to walk around the sphere to interact with it
Create opportunity for other content to be displayed inside the globe or with similar technology
Invoke emotion when the user notices change and interacts with product

tech design and research

Sensor Input > Arduino > Serial > Raspberry Pi > Video Player > Projector

Videos were uploaded to the Raspberry Pi over flash drives

Process

>

Process >

Technology:

Initial testing was done in the tech phase, where we had to input both Arduino script as well as Python script into the Raspberry Pi so the two interfaces could communicate over serial.

With much troubleshooting, we discovered that the Arduino can send a message over serial to the Raspberry Pi based on the sensor input, where the Raspberry Pi would then play the uploaded video content to the projector.

Fabrication:

Physical fabrication was our second step, where we reinforced the sphere/lantern with wires, created the electrical housing with a foam core box, and attempted to seamlessly hide wiring and technology through the tripod pole.