login/register

Snip!t from collection of Alan Dix

see all channels for Alan Dix

Snip
summary

Last year GE introduced the “Color Effects” G-35 str... Christmas lights, each individually adjustable as to col... Each light has a microprocessor and a serial communicati... string of lights, with a pre-set lighting options, sells...
Last Novemb

Hackers liberate intelligent Christmas lights – and we have a string to give away - PowerSource | Blog on EDN
http://www.edn.com/...ent_Christmas_lights_and_we_have_a_string_to_give_away.php

Categories

/Channels/cognition and art/digital light

[ go to category ]

For Snip

loading snip actions ...

For Page

loading url actions ...

Last year GE introduced the “Color Effects” G-35 string of 50 LED Christmas lights, each individually adjustable as to color and intensity. Each light has a microprocessor and a serial communication port. The string of lights, with a pre-set lighting options, sells from anywhere from $64 (Costco) to $100 online, or less than $2 each. Granted, the light set isn’t programmable. But wait…

Last November, hacker Darco took apart the G-35 string and with the help of his trusty logic analyzer (coincidentally from Saleae, the company that was mentioned as battling the baddies in a recent IC counterfeiting post), decoded the commands for the light set and how to control them with a uC platform such as an Arduino. Intelligent colored LED lighting control for under $2 per light? Excellent. Yes, these lights are at the DIY level, but they point the way to the lower price points that are necessary for intelligent lighting to take off.

HTML

<p>Last year GE introduced the &#x201c;Color Effects&#x201d; G-35 string of 50 LED Christmas lights, each individually adjustable as to color and intensity. Each light has a microprocessor and a serial communication port. The string of lights, with a pre-set lighting options, sells from anywhere from $64 (Costco) to $100 online, or less than $2 each. Granted, the light set isn&#x2019;t programmable. But wait&#x2026;</p> <p>Last November, hacker Darco <a href="http://www.deepdarc.com/2010/11/27/hacking-christmas-lights/">took apart the G-35 string</a> and with the help of his trusty logic analyzer (coincidentally from <a href="http://www.saleae.com/logic/">Saleae</a>, the company that was mentioned as battling the baddies in a <a href="http://www.edn.com/blog/PowerSource/41244-Watch_out_for_well_made_counterfeit_chips.php">recent IC counterfeiting post</a>), decoded the commands for the light set and how to control them with a uC platform such as an Arduino. Intelligent colored LED lighting control for under $2 per light? Excellent. Yes, these lights are at the DIY level, but they point the way to the lower price points that are necessary for intelligent lighting to take off.</p>