Prototype

Using Arduino, I created a 4x3 grid of lights that would scroll from one end to another based on the data obtained from Google Activity. I decided to convert the hours I spent on YouTube (over a week in January of each year) to an array of Boolean values so that the LEDs can be controlled easily (using Mathematica). For example, if I watched some videos at 5pm and some at 10pm, the corresponding array would have a true value for the corresponding index for those hours (17 and 22).

Before creating the physical prototype, I simulated the circuit and the code using Autodesk’s Electronics Lab. I also enclosed the electrical circuit and breadboards in a box with slits above the lights, so that the effect of scrolling lights would resemble that in Guitar Hero. The device starts up when the USB attached to the Arduino is plugged into the computer.