Simple Mac prank using Arduino (Update 22/03/10)

Hi,
I'm going to show you how you can annoy a mac user using only a couple simple parts.

Macs have a built in IR sensor that allows you to control them using an apple remote, this makes them an easy target for this prank. We will be using an arduino with the apple remote library to randomly "press buttons."

The arduino will act like an apple remote and at a random interval it will "press" a random button, this will either be back, forward or menu, this can easily be changed in the sketch though.

Update (22/03/10) I have added a sketch that will first wait 5 minutes, to give you time to hide the arduino and will then randomly "press" any button every 0.5 seconds, this is sure to drive your target crazy!

Step 1: The IR sensor.

You may wonder where the IR sensor is,the sensor is found on both the imac and the macbook, it is however not found on the mac pro or the mac mini.
On the imac the sensor is hiding behind the black edge around the screen, right above the apple logo.
On the macbook pro it is on the right side of the front on the bottom half, it looks like a black line.
On the macbook it is in the same location, but here it's a black dot.

Comments

[snazz]

Hi,

Could you re upload or send me the .pde files again? The ones that you have are .tmp's and are not readable when I open up the arduino program.

[yonsje]

Just change the .tmp to .pde ;)

[snazz]

I did that but with all 3 sketches loaded and open, i still get byte problems. Ive tried changing them to numbers but it won't work. Is there anyway I could get the whole arduino code simplfied including one of the pdes. (either one is fine)? im a bit of a noob and need to finish this up for a project.

[yonsje]

Did you install the apple remote library?

[mcarrell]

For those who don't want to become victim of pranks like this, I'd suggest an anti-dote....

Open System Preferences Security pane and then check the box that says "Disable remote control infrared receiver".. Or if you still want to use your remote, but ONLY your remote, click the item below that that says "Pair"... Voila! (yeah I know, I'm a fun-spoiler!)

[challahc]

Ah yes, I had this problem with using a macbook and an apple tv in the same room. The remotes are all the same. This would be fun to make as a wearable and just walk around the office.

[unimatrixZxero]

Mac Mini's have a IR sensor on the right end of the optical drive slot. I have a 2008 Model and the remote works fine.
AFAIK the 2010 model doesn't have IR if it doesn't have an optical drive.

[strahl]

LOL! This is just great! I haven't tried this but I bet a big media design office would be the perfect playground for this. Provided you want to get 15 people to end up as slaughtering maniacs ;)

[Geekmandude]

Great prank! Too bad my brothers MacBook just fried... :P

[Geekmandude]

Ahh, now he has another one.... And my arduino is plugged in. Tomorrow is going to be FUN ;-).

[tristantech]

This is awesome, but if somebody is sitting in front of the computer, wouldn't they block the IR beam

[yonsje]

Thanks, you would have to hide it somewhere next to the computer so the beam shines between the person an the computer and onto the sensor.

[computer_freak_8]

I was thinking "hmm.. interesting..." until I saw the enclosure part. Then I thought "Aw, sweet!"

This truly is awesome; just one part I might do differently: use a part from the "middle" of the "stem", rather than the end of it, to hold the LEDs. Then, use the top part in place of the piece of paper for the CD. (Maybe even glue the top of the stem to inside the top of the clear cover part.)

[yonsje]

Thanks for the kind words.
That's certainly a better idea then a piece of paper I didn't even think of doing that!

[troseph]

 I like it! Where did you figure out the light sequences for the mac?

[yonsje]

Hi,
I'm glad you like my instructable!
Because I used the apple remote library I didn't have to figure out the sequences, which made this very easy to do.