Send an SMS by semaphore

Now an all-purpose semaphore-driven keyboard for all desktop apps - with an iPhone front end! Read on for the original instructions.

After masterme120's comments should work cross-platform on any app with text input, though tested on Mac. Tell me about your experiences.

The instructions are the same - just install [http://processing Processing], download and double click on the .pde file then switch to your favourite app, and start typing in the air!

The new prototype switches between numerical and alphabetical using the NEXT signal. Send NEXT twice in a row, and it will hit 'Enter', suitable for IM. Skip to step 4 for how to semaphore - it's really simple.

Download the (new keyboard prototype) (original SMS version)

The instructable should still make sense whichever prototype you choose to download.

>>>>>>>

Build a system so you can use Semaphore to send an SMS text message.

To make the Semaphore Cellphone you will need...

• A Mac, Windows or Linux Computer with a webcam attached
• Some yellow stuff
• Some blue stuff

This offers a third way to send SMS instead of T9 and that funky apple keyboard. Using this system you simply stand about 5 metres back from the camera and move your 'flags' into the semaphore positions in order to dial the number, and then to type the message.

What's more, with an SMS service like Mojo, or GizmoSMS you can make it send real text messages. However it's almost as fun without. Maybe you can mod it to send emails, or something else.

The whole system is written on an open source piece of software called Processing which is used for all kinds of arts projects.

You can read more, see a demo of the system and download the software from my website.

The remaining steps in the instructable show you step by step how to install and configure your semaphore system, how to build the pom poms and how to use it.

If you like the project, then use the rating controls to help spread the word and leave any thoughts in the comments. I'll be listening.

This is a Curiosity Collective project.

Step 1 Download processing and the semaphore software.

First step, download Processing from processing.org and the semaphore software from cefn.com.

The semaphore software must be unzipped and I think should automatically open in Processing when you double click on semaphore_tutorial_branch.pde. If it doesn't then use File>Open and open it from the directory where you unzipped the files.

I've garbled the details for my personal SMS account so you'll have to add your own in step 3 if you want to actually send a SMS. However, the software is functional without the SMS account, but it won't send texts to your friends.

Each stage of the message sending process (dialling, message composing) is illustrated by an Apple iPhone parody keyboard (best projected onto the screen on the wall for visibility).

Each key is annotated with little color circles denoting the flag positions which will trigger that number or letter. You can also see a mirror image of yourself and see what the machine is 'seeing'. Whenever the color patches detected by the computer match the color patches on the keyboard, that key gets pressed.

A 'delete' and 'next' key are provided. These can cancel mistaken symbols, and proceed to the next stage of the message when you have finished dialling or typing. They use the 'cancel' and 'numerals' symbol from the original semaphore code.

The processing suite of software provides a fully integrated IDE for all kinds of arts projects.

For example, getting hold of the built in camera on most platforms is simply a matter of writing a line like...
new Capture();
...because all the libraries and everything are built in from the start.

There's loads of tutorials online at their website and lots of very cool audio-visual projects have already been built and published for you to learn from.

Fortunately for this project you don't have to write all the code, because I've already built and tested the software.

Comments

[JediMasterJET]

WHY?

[rhino]

Having learned semaphore in the Boy Scouts forty years ago, I was quite intrigued by the title of this instructable. It is great to see semaphore getting some use by the public. I am at a loss to see the practical applications though. The problem with sending semaphore the old fashioned way was anyone with a pair of binoculars and semaphore knowledge could read your message.

[fordman15243]

ha, I actually just got back from summer camp today, and during the games one of them involved semaphores (our patrol guessed the phrase after the first three letters) and I was the one who learned morse code!!!

[masterme120]

I had an idea that might be possible with processing. Since it can generate keystrokes, do you think that it can generate mouse movements? You could set up the camera in front of your monitor, then have a stylus like object with leds in the end and 2 tactile switches, so that you could turn your computer into a tablet? When you push each tactile switch, the leds flash in a certain order, so that processing can detect from a hyper cam where you pushed the button? That may be way to complicated, but it's just an idea.

[dillweed]

that was at glitchgiving! fun fun. thanks.

[masterme120]

How would you make it use iChat?

[cefn]

The way to connect the two is using the java.awt.Robot class, which is able to generate native keystroke events. So if you begin the processing application, then switch to iChat, the keystrokes get sent to iChat instead. Great idea, masterme!

[cefn]

(removed by author or community request)

[masterme120]

Could I try the prototype?

[cefn]

Did you get a chance to test the keyboard prototype?

[cefn]

I couldn't help it. Had to spend a bit of time making it a bit more solid and this is probably pretty well finished now. See the link in step one of the instructable. To send 'Enter' you have to hit 'Next' twice. Hitting Next just once switches you between numeric and alphabetical. The procedure is to launch the app in processing, then switch to iChat. All keystrokes sent are then captured by iChat instead.

[masterme120]

I just tried it! It works perfectly, but my camera is not very good, could you please add manual brightness and contrast adjustors?

[sickmate]

Very interesting instructable. Good work :).

[GorillazMiko]

cool! i wish i had the iPhone. :O