Recreating fire-spinning using electronics

Spacetime Poi is Alizarin Waissberg’s final project at physical computing course with Tom Igoe at ITP.

Spacetime Poi has all the necessary features for a fun, playful experience. It’s surprisingly sturdy, soft, and has long battery life. Accurate gyroscope readings from a sensor mounted to the poi control light patterns simulating fire. Besides the electronic parts, It’s made of unconventional,  recycled and/or affordable materials. WiFi network sends mechanic data from within one of the poi to any computer that logs into it.  Spacetime poi has proven itself as entertaining in multiple environments. 

Nonetheless, the current version of the Spacetime Poi is only one step toward the ultimate poi. Making and testing Spacetime Poi in class and on the dance floor was an insightful process, instrumental to planning the next steps. A convenient switch to turn them on and off. Replacing the LED ring with an LED strip, mounting it to the poi structure should look better and be more cost effective (if we were to mass produce). A different WiFi configuration with both poi connecting to the same server. And most importantly, implemtimg control over generative audiovisual art. To be continued 😉

Read about the intention and research at final project proposition

Get down to technical details at The making of Spacetime Poi