Costume Based Project With Tech Question(s)

Sometimes I forget..

I forget how much DIY knowledge is on this board. So forgive me for taking this long to realize this is where this should have been talked about all along. 

Back story-

My wonderful daughter who went with me on that train trip San Francisco where we ended up buying an AMC Eagle to make the return trip thinks I'm a great artist (meh, I'm okay) and very good at building stuff (again, meh), but the upside to all of that is it has inspired her to make art that I couldn't dream of.  But that is why I know I need to post here. 

This is her self portrait, and if you couldn't guess, she is influenced by Anime, and Manga. Well, she came to me with an idea for a project.  The original artwork was lost, but she decided to whip up this in less than 5 minutes on her phone (REALLY?? I was shocked; it's not even a high line phone or anything. I doubt I could even figure out the app) It shows the concept to the point we developed it to after seeing her original art and discussing how to go about it. 

She saw a few versions online being run by Rasberry Pi, but I an pretty clueless about that sort of thing, and thought about maybe using an old laptop running Linux for the screen, and somehow separating the keyboard section which would be in the messenger bag. (I think she may have added the bag; I was spitballing a lot of ideas at the time)

My biggest issue is figuring out how exactly to control the display. Would lengthening a cable work?  Could I somehow either set up a few keys to run the animations that she wants to appear as her "face"? Could I possibly add something external to the computer that would be easier to input a few commands into?  

All of the above questions kinda stalled me out. The rest of the physical stuff seems reasonably simple to me. 

Ideas?

Here is the TV we chose. Being a Mid Century Modern dealer and collector has its perks, as this is was already "in stock" and the perfect size and style IMO. We gutted it and modified it a bit to attach all of the original bits including the antennas. I still need to cut a head shaped hole in the bottom.  

As for the "bumpy" material for the neck, that will be black convoluted drain tubing from the local big box hardware store. As an added bonus, it will hide any cabling that I will have to run from the display down to the controls. 

Cool project so free bump for you. 

I'm not entirely sure how to go about designing the screen, but be very careful about the weight.  I've got to build some supports into the Dark Helmet helmet that I made for my wife because her neck gets really sore after about 3 hours of walking around a con.  It's not even *that* heavy, but when you factor in having to balance it with its weight it gets really tiring apparently.

Maybe instead of a true computer display you could do a lighter weight display using RGB LED strips and a controller?

In reply to David S. Wallens :

Thank you.  It's appreciated.

In reply to wae :

Duly noted.   The shell is actually much lighter than it looks once gutted, but I will keep it as light as possible.  The LED display from a laptop weighs mere ounces once it is removed from the laptop itself.   I do know I need to keep the entire setup as balanced as possible, and easily removable.   t this point it weighs less than any motorcycle helmet I currently own.

So, for the weekday shift, anyone with any ideas on how I can input images to the screen?  This is my major stumbling block on this project.

A Raspberry Pi is a fully functioning computer running Linux, so there's no need to gut a laptop - the Pi would be even easier to work with.  You can connect a keyboard to it or you can connect just dumb buttons to the input header on the board. The dumb buttons have the disadvantage of being more difficult to read but it's easy enough to figure out using all the excellent DIY info that's out there for the Pi. They have the advantage of being able to be packaged however you'd like, and the style of button is almost limitless out there. I'll look for a couple scripts that allow you to interface with buttons. What's your Linux comfort level? Have you ever used it or is this going to be all new from the ground up for you?

The screen, to easily interface with the Pi, should be HDMI or DVI or Display Port. All of those can be adapted to the HDMI output of the Pi. A gutted HDMI screen shouldn't be significantly heavier than a laptop screen. There are adapters available to run laptop screens off of HDMI if you do find a screen that's perfect, though.

How will your daughter see if there's a screen in the way of her face? Make sure you get an LED backlit screen - the old school fluorescent backlit screens would turn that TV case into an oven and make her very uncomfortable.

What I did to make a head mounted thing for a costume once was take apart an old hardhat. That got me a good head shaped thing to attach to that was relatively comfortable and from there I could build up the head wear. Make sure to get one with a chin strap. Check this out:

The "frame" detaches from the top readily and you can use that to mount stuff to. Just be careful of sharp stuff and the soft head inside it, of course.

ps, I love your daughter's self portrait. It's pretty compelling.

dculberson said:

A Raspberry Pi is a fully functioning computer running Linux, so there's no need to gut a laptop - the Pi would be even easier to work with.  You can connect a keyboard to it or you can connect just dumb buttons to the input header on the board. The dumb buttons have the disadvantage of being more difficult to read but it's easy enough to figure out using all the excellent DIY info that's out there for the Pi. They have the advantage of being able to be packaged however you'd like, and the style of button is almost limitless out there. I'll look for a couple scripts that allow you to interface with buttons. What's your Linux comfort level? Have you ever used it or is this going to be all new from the ground up for you?

The screen, to easily interface with the Pi, should be HDMI or DVI or Display Port. All of those can be adapted to the HDMI output of the Pi. A gutted HDMI screen shouldn't be significantly heavier than a laptop screen. There are adapters available to run laptop screens off of HDMI if you do find a screen that's perfect, though.

How will your daughter see if there's a screen in the way of her face? Make sure you get an LED backlit screen - the old school fluorescent backlit screens would turn that TV case into an oven and make her very uncomfortable.

What I did to make a head mounted thing for a costume once was take apart an old hardhat. That got me a good head shaped thing to attach to that was relatively comfortable and from there I could build up the head wear. Make sure to get one with a chin strap. Check this out:

The "frame" detaches from the top readily and you can use that to mount stuff to. Just be careful of sharp stuff and the soft head inside it, of course.

Written in reverse (sorta, with apologies to Spoon)-

That is exactly what my plan was for wearing it.  I'm a commercial electrician by trade, so there are probably 15 or so hardhats knocking around Cooterville.  Glad to see I am on the right track there.

The "being able to see" issue would be solved by a mirrored periscope that would "see" above the screen,  Possibly below, but that would end up taking up valuable real estate in front of her face that she needs for her nose, mouth, and you know... breathing.     I made it clear that she will be severely limited like this, and may always have to be with a "handler" any time she attempts to walk.  This is only supposed to be for conventions that she goes to, and won't be long term during that time.

The heat from the screen isn't something I had thought of.  I realized that the cpu would put out quite a bit of heat, which is why I though of the separated laptop thing.  I also have nearly as many old laptops and Chromebooks laying around as I do hardhats, so I was trying to do the old "reuse/recycle" bit, with something I was somewhat comfortable with, as I have had most of them apart for repairs and screen replacement.  But if the Pi is a better idea, I am willing to go that route.  Which leads us to...

My comfort level with Linux?  Umm, I know he isn't a character drawn by Charles M. Schultz??

Let's just say, it is going to be a very steep learning curve...

dculberson said:

ps, I love your daughter's self portrait. It's pretty compelling.

Thank you   I recently told one of my art friends who is recovering from two strokes over the last year that art is less about extreme technical proficiency, and more about conveying what the artist is feeling.  That drawing makes me feel what she feels every time I see it. 

Definitely check out Adam Savage's (Yes from Mythbusters) Tested channel on YouTube. He does TONS of costume projects and if memory serves he did a Daft Punk or DeadMau5 style helmet with very similar design constraints to your project. If I'm misremembering those kinds of projects would be a fantastic source for some information on how to program the RGB, LED, or whatever kind of display you want to go with. Tons of those helmets/masks out there and tons of guides how to build them. Adam also usually does a good job coming up with clever ways to make his costumes livable for long periods of times at Cons, i.e. supports, fans, flexibility, controls, etc.

Also RPF (The Replica Prop Forum) may put us at GRM to shame for these kinds of projects. I haven't been there in a really long time but they could probably help you out over there as well. Obviously they tend to focus more on copying screen-use props but they're an ingenuitive bunch that do a lot of costuming.

I wouldn't go with tubing for the next, it's not flexible as you think it is, when your head is restrianing by it. Some L200 craft foam in a thinner form (neoprene if you aren't allergic to latex) can be layered with some glue and then move more like cloth and not kill neck movement if needed.

also, that is some really good art. *claps* 

as far as the "face", an adrino with some LEDS with a tint to the screen will give you lots of face options, you can easily program activation buttons, and it's all really low power, She can then look through the front glass inbetween the leds. You can get a pack of 3mm leds cheap, the arduino can sit inside the helmet then you can just run your face buttons down to the bag.

quick google found me this, which may be even easier, just cost of the LED boards and the breadboards to control them. arduino's are only a few bucks and can run on solar or 9v.