Transformative Facial Projections: Wearable LED Technology Pushes Boundaries of Augmented Reality

‘Become Anyone’ Mask: Put On Endless Faces With 3,000 LEDs

Sean Hodgins, a Canadian mechanical engineer and maker, has pushed the boundaries of innovation with his latest creation – Become Anyone 2.0 mask that can project any face or pattern you want using an astonishing 3,000 LEDs. This wearable display technology has been met with widespread acclaim and praise from the tech community.

Hodgins initially developed a full-face mask five years ago, which required a small projector mounted to the end of a pole attached to the chin. While impressive in its own right, it was not as portable or versatile as he had envisioned. Determined to improve upon his initial design, Hodgins set out to create a standalone, more portable unit.

The result is a futuristic-looking mask that has left many stunned and impressed. The mask’s panels are programmable LED matrices capable of displaying dynamic images, giving users endless creative possibilities. Each panel contains 2,960 red-green-blue addressable LEDs, which can be controlled independently for limitless customization options. The engineering marvel runs on a Raspberry Pi computer, allowing it to refresh the display at an incredible 8 frames per second.

Hodgins showcased his creation by transforming himself into characters from popular video games like Doom and even wearing the mask to an outdoor Halloween party. While he acknowledges that the current prototype is still fragile and may not withstand harsh environments, he is proud to report that it survived a full night in temperatures of around 32 degrees Fahrenheit without any issues.

The creator has shared his build details, including code and computer-aided design models, on GitHub for others to replicate. However, Hodgins doesn’t expect a flood of copies anytime soon due to the project’s complexity. Undeterred, he is already thinking ahead to Become Anyone 3.0, with potential upgrades including increasing the mask’s resolution by adding more LEDs and integrating the battery directly into the device.

While acknowledging that the current design could be made smoother, Hodgins believes the jagged aesthetic adds character to his innovative creation. For now, the engineer is focused on perfecting his wearable technology, which has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with each other in the virtual world.

Source: www.forbes.com