Playing with LASER Tag 2.0

What?

Combine laptop, projector, webcam and laser pointer into virtual graffiti.

Why?

To celebrate another fruitful year's end.

Tools

Available

• Acer P1303 projector
• speedlink webcamera (needs to get to run under linux)
• creative webcam
• T42 laptop
• red laser pointer mouse
• transportation means: Martian742's bike trailer

Needed

• power source (our projector draws 2.3A @ 230V peak and 300W avg.)
• place for the performance
  • what about the Moravian Library? the wall looks usable and it's not too far from base
    
• faster computer
• green laser pointer(s) - User:b42 will borrow a pair from friend

How?

Plan

• find stuff needed
• make the speedlink camera to work
• read the configuration suggestions [1]
• try different computers and settings

Resources

• Graffiti Research Lab Vienna
• Laser Tag Linux port home wiki
• ReadMe on the Linux port of the software
• Link to the Mac binaries
• Link to the Windows (XP, Mac) binaries

Conclusion

The peformance failed due to inadequate power supply from the generator (why?).

Lessons learned

• Obtain more reliable generator, or less reliable one with UPS, next time. Test whether it can power the whole setup for an extended period of time.
• The bike trailer is great for transporting all the things (+a crate of beer) needed without a car and doubles as a projector stand.
• USB-powered laser?
• There was an ambition to rewrite the lasertagging program using OpenCV.

Images

After the action.