Pixel VGA: Low Resolution Video Wall Projects

Garnet Hertz (last modified 02 November 2011)

Overview: This is a group of projects that reuse old computer monitors and transforms them into a large low resolution video wall or light installation. Each VGA monitor displays a single color at a time; each screen is a single pixel.


Floor Arc (Pixel VGA, Version 2)

Overview: This installation at the Banff Centre (October 2011) is the second test in reusing old computer monitors in a video installation. Fifty-seven old computer monitors are piled into an arc on the gallery floor, with approximately two dozen of them displaying either fuchsia or white in a pre-programmed strobing pattern. Each screen is controlled with custom electronics to create pulsating and strobing patterns, casting a colored wash across the darkened gallery. Dimensions: Variable (approx 6m x 0.5m). VGA monitors, custom electronics. 2011.




Pixel VGA (Version 1, Banff Floor Cluster)

Overview: This installation at the Banff Centre (July 2011) is the first test in reusing old computer monitors in a video installation. Each VGA monitor displays a single color at a time in a strobing pattern that is modulated by users moving through the exhibition space (Other Gallery, Banff Centre). Two dozen old computer monitors occupy the center of a gallery floor in a cluster facing the wall. Each screen is controlled with custom electronics to create pulsating and strobing patterns, casting a colored wash across the darkened gallery. Dimensions: Variable (approx 3m x 3m). VGA monitors, custom electronics. 2011.

Photo documentation of Pixel VGA (Version 1, Banff Floor Cluster)
























Video documentation of Pixel VGA (Version 1, Banff Floor Cluster)



Photo documentation slideshow of Pixel VGA (Version 1, Banff Floor Cluster)



Source code for Pixel VGA (Version 1, Banff Floor Cluster)

Arduino source code used in Pixel VGA (Version 1, Banff Floor Cluster) is included below. There is also PIC-based code on the VGA driver boards - the Tiny VGA circuit by Arjan Scherpenisse - available at the Tiny VGA Bitbucket page. The following is the Arduino code to control the blue/white light sequence:

// StrobePIC_blue4, used in Garnet Hertz's "Pixel VGA (Version 1, Banff Floor Cluster)"
// installed at the Banff Centre in July 2011. Pins 4 through 7 of an Arduino Uno are
// connected in parallel to 24 Tiny VGA circuits, initially designed by Arjan Scherpenisse.
// Code contributions by Erik Olson. For documentation of this installation, see
// http://www.conceptlab.com/pixel/

int activate = 4;
int red = 7;
int green = 6;
int blue = 5;
void setup() {

  pinMode(activate, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(red, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(green, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(blue, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(activate, HIGH);

}

void loop() {
  // Main code goes here, to run repeatedly: 

  // blue 20000 pause
  digitalWrite(red,  LOW);
  digitalWrite(green, LOW);
  digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
  delay (20000);

  // blue-to-white strobes 1200
  {
    for (int i=1200; i >= 10; i = i / 1.1){
      digitalWrite(red, LOW);
      digitalWrite(green, LOW);
      digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
      delay (2 * i);
      digitalWrite(red,  HIGH);
      digitalWrite(green, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
      delay (30);
    } 
  }


  // white-to-blue 100
  {
    for (int i=0; i <= 100; i++){
      digitalWrite(red, LOW);
      digitalWrite(green, LOW);
      digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
      delay (i);
      digitalWrite(red,  HIGH);
      digitalWrite(green, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
      delay (i);
      digitalWrite(red, LOW);
      digitalWrite(green, LOW);
      digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
      delay (100);
    } 
  }

  // blue 10000 pause
  digitalWrite(red,  LOW);
  digitalWrite(green, LOW);
  digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);  
  delay (10000);

  // blue-to-white 200 w strobe
  {
    for (int i=200; i >= 0; i--){
      digitalWrite(red, LOW);
      digitalWrite(green, LOW);
      digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
      delay (i);
      digitalWrite(red,  HIGH);
      digitalWrite(green, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
      delay (i);
      for (int i=10; i >= 0; i--){
        digitalWrite(red, LOW);
        digitalWrite(green, LOW);
        digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
        delay (i);
        digitalWrite(red,  HIGH);
        digitalWrite(green, HIGH);
        digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
        delay (i);      
      } 

    } 
  }

  // white-to-blue 100
  {
    for (int i=0; i <= 100; i++){
      digitalWrite(red, LOW);
      digitalWrite(green, LOW);
      digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
      delay (i);
      digitalWrite(red,  HIGH);
      digitalWrite(green, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
      delay (i);
    } 
  }


}


Future Direction: Architectural-Scale Video Installations






Initial Project Concept: Pixel VGA Gamewall

Status: As of 19 July 2011, this Gamewall concept is not being actively developed. Instead, more light/sculptural works in the spirit of Jim Campbell's low resolution LED projects are being developed, similar to "Pixel VGA (Version 1, Banff Floor Cluster)" installed in Banff in July 2011. Nevertheless, the initial concept for the Gamewall project is included below:

Abstract: This project is a concept to reuse old computer monitors and transform them into a large video wall that behaves like a giant handheld LED video game from the late 1970s. This project proposed to use each of the 64 VGA CRT monitors as a single pixel in an 8x8 configuration. This project is designed to be installed in a public area, and features two metal foot "dance pads" for the public to control the game system.

System Overview Diagram


Figure 1. "Pixel" Installation Diagram. See a High Resolution Version of the "Pixel" Installation Diagram (1920x1639 pixel JPEG).


System Components

Public Input: Heavy-Duty Metal DDR Game Pads


Figure 2. Image of Ion Pro Metal DDR Game Pad Controller.

Two heavy-duty metal game pads will be placed outdoors and be used for the public control of the video wall game system. This installation can be configured for one or two game pads/players. Game pads are tamperproof and can be bolted to concrete or moved indoors during night.

Game Logic Board: Meggy Jr. RGB


Figure 3. Video of Meggy Jr. RGB 8x8 pixel game system in operation.

Several LED-based game platforms exist, including the 8x8 Game System by Brad Slattery, Thumb Stadium (3 pixels), Meggy Jr. RGB and many others. Due to available games and documentation, the Meggy Jr. RGB game platform will be used for this project.

VGA Driver Boards: Tiny VGA

TinyVGA by Arjan Scherpenisse
Figure 4. Tiny VGA board by Arjan Scherpenisse.

Custom cabling will lead from the game logic board into sixty-four boards to control the monitors. These boards convert the small LED lights turning on and off on the game board into signals that turn the large wall of VGA monitors on and off. The Tiny VGA system by Arjan Scherpenisse will be used due to its reliability, documentation and low cost.

Video Wall: 64 Recycled CRT VGA Monitors

Sixty-four (64) cathode ray tube (CRT) computer monitors will be mounted on a reinforced metal rack with a size of approximately sixteen (16) feet wide and twelve (12) feet tall. This video wall needs to be installed indoors or in a tamper-proof and waterproof outdoor enclosure. It is proposed that this video wall be displayed in a large storefront or gallery window.

The location of this video wall should be directly in front of the metal game "DDR" controller pads, and can be positioned on the first or second story of a building. Cabling will need to be routed from the controller pads to the video wall. A number of locations will be scouted and logistics will be discussed and negotiated with venue owners/managers.

If possible, the CRT monitors should be collected from the public as a part of the piece. In other words, the surrounding local community would be invited to come and drop off their old CRT VGA monitors approximately two weeks before the piece's unveiling. If desired, local municipal waste management organizations can use this project as a centerpiece for an e-waste collection event or campaign. At the end of the installation, it is proposed that all monitors are responsibly recycled. Documentation of this work would show the the collection of unwanted CRT VGA monitors from the community, the construction of the installation, public interactions with the functioning game system, and recycling of the CRT displays.







Garnet Hertz (2011) - http://www.conceptlab.com/