Author: Carol Tian

Photos of prototype circuit and form:

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/2FhpqityYei-divining-sphere

Link to the Google Doc draft tutorial:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wk7dhLSKMCCNjBaGRtUKdu5ZLqSFr8Xyam4IN50iEIY/edit?usp=sharing

Link to the Instructables user profile:

https://www.instructables.com/member/ccaroll/

Description and/or storyboard for your project video:

Scene 1: Fade from black with mysterious music playing in the background. Shot of crystal ball resting on velvet covered table, dim lighting creates an atmospheric effect.

Scene 2: Shows the Diviner from the participants’ point of view.

Scene 3: Close-up of the diviner.

Scene 4: Participants make a wish with their eyes closed.

Scene 5: The diviner’s hands are hovering above the crystal ball.

Scene 6: Energy flows into the crystal ball. The astrological element transitions to a starry night sky background or a mystical scene with candles, runes and tarot cards.

Scene 7: The crystal ball glows.

Scene 8: The participant looks into the crystal ball with fascination.

Bill of Materials (BOM):

Idea1:

Clear Acrylic Sheets 1/8″ Thick 4″ x 6″https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CLHQZJVZ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A37FRF5AURRF9M&psc=1

LED light

Idea4: Stainless Steel Hollow Ball (I want an opaque plastic or acrylic ball, but I don’t know if the thermal conductivity will be good enough): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BQZRW4VC/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A2T37KO80TMWQQ&th=1

Possible temperature sensors:

TMP36 – Analog Temperature sensor – TMP36 https://www.adafruit.com/product/165

reference instruction https://www.instructables.com/TMP36-Temperature-Sensor-Arduino-Tinkercad/

Adafruit PCT2075 Temperature Sensor – STEMMA QT / Qwiic https://www.adafruit.com/product/4369

LED light

Rough draft circuit diagram:

Idea1 (a Playback Counting Board for YouTubers. After the video playback reaches a specific value 1000, the YouTube acrylic panel light on the desktop will be turned on) possible code:

const char *ssid = “YourWiFiSSID”;
const char *password = “YourWiFiPassword”;

const int buttonPin = D2; // Connect the push button to pin D2
const int ledPin = D3; // Connect the LED to pin D3

volatile int playbackCount = 0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT_PULLUP);
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);

connectToWiFi();

attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(buttonPin), incrementPlaybackCount, FALLING);
}

void loop() {
if (playbackCount >= 1000) {
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // Turn on the LED when playback count reaches 1000
} else {
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // Turn off the LED if playback count is less than 1000
}
}

void incrementPlaybackCount() {
playbackCount++;
Serial.println(“Playback Count: ” + String(playbackCount));
}

void connectToWiFi() {
WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
Serial.print(“Connecting to WiFi”);

while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
delay(1000);
Serial.print(“.”);
}

Serial.println(“\nConnected to WiFi”);
}

In this code:

• The button is connected to pin D2 and set up with a pull-up resistor.
• The LED is connected to pin D3.
• The playbackCount is a counter that increments when the button is pressed (interrupt triggered).
• The LED will turn on when the playback count reaches 1000.
• The ESP8266 connects to the WiFi network using the provided credentials.

Idea4 (a Divinationcrystal ball. When your hand is close to the crystal ball for a period of time, the heat sensor will sense the heat and will light up the built-in LED lights):

Possible code:

const int heatSensorPin = A0; // Connect the heat sensor to analog pin A0
const int ledPin = 13; // Built-in LED on most Arduino boards

const int heatThreshold = 300; // Adjust this value based on your sensor and environment

void setup() {
pinMode(heatSensorPin, INPUT);
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int heatValue = analogRead(heatSensorPin);
Serial.println(“Heat Value: ” + String(heatValue));

if (heatValue > heatThreshold) {
// If heat is detected, turn on the LED
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
} else {
// If no heat is detected, turn off the LED
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
}

delay(1000); // Adjust the delay as needed
}

1. Playback Counting Board designed for YouTubers. After the video playback reaches a specific value, the YouTube acrylic panel light on the desktop will be turned on. This can result in different colors for different values, or the higher the value (of viewers), the more saturated the color.

2. A desktop weather display board to remind you to wear sunglasses or bring an umbrella. For example, on a sunny day, the light on the board that indicates the sun will light up, and on a rainy day it is the light that indicates the rain will light up.

3. Pomodoro timer. When you have studied for 40 minutes, the timer will start flashing and then play music. When the user clicks the button with his/her hand, it stops and the timer starts counting down for 5 minutes, after which it rings the school bell. After 5 minutes it will ring the school bell. After the user stops the timer by clicking the button with his/her hand, the machine will start counting down again for 40 minutes.

4. Divination/ Astrology/ soothsayers crystal ball. When your hand is close to the crystal ball for a period of time, the heat sensor will sense the heat and will light up the built-in LED lights, so that the crystal ball will show different colors. When you have this crystal ball, you can be a soothsayers/ psychics/ fortune tellers/ mediums!

Knowledge about origins and uses of the crystal ball: https://www.learnreligions.com/origins-and-uses-of-the-crystal-ball-4796778

5. A course feedback board designed for professors. Our professors always want to know if students like their classes, but if they ask them directly, students are often afraid to speak up. I plan to make a like-dislike button set. Each student can hit it when they are dissatisfied with a class. The statistics will be shown as a number on the board at the end of the semester. A similar concept is the after-school feedback mountain. Dissatisfied students can touch it after a lecture. As the number of touches increases, the color of the mountain gets progressively darker.

I’m also interested in making some magnetic levitation effect devices! Like making the crystal ball levitable.

https://www.instructables.com/Arduino-Air-Bonsai-Levitation/

My costume will focus on long light up nails. It basically includes a set of ten long nails. It works with many Halloween sets such as vampires, ghouls, mummies. etc. It’s intent is to scare people and add interest to a normal scary Halloween set.

Process:

Use Band-Aid Waterproof Tape to make ten finger cots.

Wire ten LEDs in series-in progress

Tinkercad circuit:

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/7IDkNnKeJFA

Specific supplies list: 

Band-Aid Waterproof Tape https://www.target.com/p/band-aid-waterproof-tape-10yd/-/A-84981790?ref=tgt_adv_xsp&AFID=google&fndsrc=tmnv&DFA=71700000105452574&CPNG=PLA_DVM%2Ba064R000011djVGQAY-J%26J_J3_Band-AidGoogleSearch_Feb_2023-861333&adgroup=PLA_J%26J&LID=700000001393753pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9067609&gclid=CjwKCAjwp8OpBhAFEiwAG7NaEr1VyDFidUZn3PfneWIa6r-ohtEsKBJ2127I9bnR8HTimG8SQb6EcRoC7xMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

NeoPixel Mini Button PCB https://www.adafruit.com/product/1612

To do list: 

1. Wire the ten LEDs in series, and stick them to the finger cover at a certain angle.

2.Glue acrylic nails to the finger cots.

3.Refine the Arduino code, try to make more effects.

4. Test on the LED lights.

1. Costume description

My Halloween costume will focus on long light up nails. I will be gluing acrylic nails to gloves and then placing LED lights underneath the nails to illuminate them.

2. Arduino Technique: Fading LED

3. Materials and parts I may use:

NeoPixel Mini Button PCB https://www.adafruit.com/product/1612

NeoPixel RGBW Mini Button PCB – Pack of 10  https://www.adafruit.com/product/4776

Acrylic Long Nail Tips https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09VL485SB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

4. Circuit diagram

Idea 1: things on body, like hem of a skirt.

I would use wire or a chicken coop as a skeleton and then glue paper or fabric over it. The lights would stay in place with the skeleton.

Idea2: some kind of claws.

I could probably buy ready made gloves, or make one out of gauze. Then make long nails out of cardstock paper, or wire and paper, and glue them together. The LEDs could be hidden in the nails.

Idea3: things to hold in hands, like a scepter.

I could make a scepter out of wood or paper and wire and hide the light in it.