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Step 12Serial Communications Project Update
Due to popular opinion, I have now enabled the ouija board to comminucate - not with the dead, but with any device with serial output (like a PC, phone, bluetooth module).
I have no fancy stuff like a bluetooth module, so for this step I have used my laptop to send the messages to the Ouija board.
The video is now added, it is the 3rd video in the intro step to this instructable.
The Ouija board is now functional with full capacity - it can 'carry on' as it did originally, but connecting a serial device can invoke new behavior:
The board can talk to any serial device (so if you had a fancy bluetooth module or mobile phone or something tucked away in the case) for programming messages. It has a simple command structure, such as:
(asterisk) - begin new message
# - end message
@ - repeat message over and over
(carat) - go to sleep (turn off)
! - stop moving
$ - turn off/on (toggle) random movements
(I had to type asterisk and carat as the actual characters made the text act weird in instructables!)
so, to say 'askjacob' over and over one would send the string '*@askjacob#'
if you just send '*askjacob#' , it would spell out askjacob and then go back to random movements.
if you send '$*askjacob#', it would spell out askjacob, and then stop, awaiting further instructions.
You can send stuff to the board at any time and it will not interrupt the movement - unless of course the command specifically does affect movement.
I am very happy with how it turned out. Because my original design didn't expect this capability, there are some mechanical limitations - I can't get the planchette to reach the L, M , Y or Z, but in this age of txt msgs isn't too bad... From what I have heard, messages from beyond don't always come through clearly anyway and need some 'interpretation'.
The images below are
1 - the changes to the PCB (I will upload new eagle schematics for the changes)
2 - how the serial connector goes 'outside' the box
3 - the setup with a laptop for testing
4 - soundproofing the box
5 - soundproofing the lid
I have no fancy stuff like a bluetooth module, so for this step I have used my laptop to send the messages to the Ouija board.
The video is now added, it is the 3rd video in the intro step to this instructable.
The Ouija board is now functional with full capacity - it can 'carry on' as it did originally, but connecting a serial device can invoke new behavior:
The board can talk to any serial device (so if you had a fancy bluetooth module or mobile phone or something tucked away in the case) for programming messages. It has a simple command structure, such as:
(asterisk) - begin new message
# - end message
@ - repeat message over and over
(carat) - go to sleep (turn off)
! - stop moving
$ - turn off/on (toggle) random movements
(I had to type asterisk and carat as the actual characters made the text act weird in instructables!)
so, to say 'askjacob' over and over one would send the string '*@askjacob#'
if you just send '*askjacob#' , it would spell out askjacob and then go back to random movements.
if you send '$*askjacob#', it would spell out askjacob, and then stop, awaiting further instructions.
You can send stuff to the board at any time and it will not interrupt the movement - unless of course the command specifically does affect movement.
I am very happy with how it turned out. Because my original design didn't expect this capability, there are some mechanical limitations - I can't get the planchette to reach the L, M , Y or Z, but in this age of txt msgs isn't too bad... From what I have heard, messages from beyond don't always come through clearly anyway and need some 'interpretation'.
The images below are
1 - the changes to the PCB (I will upload new eagle schematics for the changes)
2 - how the serial connector goes 'outside' the box
3 - the setup with a laptop for testing
4 - soundproofing the box
5 - soundproofing the lid
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