A dog with persistence-of-vision LEDs in her shirt writes my novel Makers in the park at night

Michael created a dog-shirt equipped with persistence-of-vision LEDs controlled by a LilyPad soft Arduino, and programmed it to output the text of my novel Makers as his pooch ran gleefully around the park at night. Then he photographed it and sent it to me, and my head exploded with delight.

Mounting 5 LEDs on a moving object creates one of the cheapest and largest displays: Persistence of Vision. It's been done on bicycle wheels, fans and other rotating objects.
In this project i am sewing a Lilypad wearable Arduino board and five LEDs with conductive thread on my dog's shirt. She's a Miniature Pinscher running very fast for fun. In curves fast enough for Persitence of Vision. And she likes running in large circles in the park! Light writing.

My Dog Light Writing "Makers"

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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The Snowden Principle

CaptObvious

I couldn’t even begin to tell you what the article was about from that headline. A dog with persistance of vision? LEDs writing a novel? A very smart dog who should be a tenured professor?

However, this is awesome, so I’ll let it slide.

This time.
jimmosk

I have rarely felt such utter I Am Living In The Future, nor in such a whimsical way. Bravo!
mtdna

G.E.N.I.O.U.S.

’nuff said.
- beerwhisperer
  
  Not to douche on your parade but,
  S.P.E.L.L.I.N.G
  
  (hee hee)
  
  However, this is outstanding.
Anonymous

MIchael has won a large part, and possibly all, of the internet.

beerwhisperer, adavies – get those sarcasm meters adjusted NOW!
Anonymous

Oh, this made me really happy!!!!
ultranaut

That this makes perfect sense to me has convinced me that we are already inside the technological singularity. I can’t imagine how weird it must have been for random strangers in the park witnessing a little blinking cyborg dog running in circles but I hope it blew their minds.
burningrome

Sofa King Cool.
Jake0748

No self-respecting dog wears a shirt anyway.
- holtt
  
  No self-respecting dog wears a shirt anyway.
  
  Indeed. In the summer, just pants.
zikman

this is one of the most characteristically ‘boing boing’ posts I’ve ever read… and there wasn’t even any steampunk involved!
Chris Tucker

This is so insanely wonderful and TRANSMETROPOLITAN!

One important datapoint is missing, however.

What’s the dog’s name? She deserves some credit. After all, without her, it’s just a neat idea.
- Michael
  
  Her name is Ianto.
  - Chris Tucker
    
    Thank you!
Anonymous

Isn’t that theft of copyright?!?! That hound better lawyer up.
- ADavies
  
  Nope, it’s fine. Permision has already been given. Creative Commons FTW.
urpBurp

That’s freakin’ sweet! Imagine the secret spy messages you could send to someone if you used low-frequency light similar to TV remotes.

Type your message in at home…

Go for a walk…

Your contact videos you as you walk…

Reads message at home…

POW! All your base are belong to us!
bcsizemo

I’ll never be a spy…
I can’t (or have an incredibly difficult time) read these things.

Damn nystagmusy eyes.
IWood

And now, a pack of LED-vested voles on methamphetamine will perform Proust’s “Swann’s Way.”
Anonymous

You know, get some nice music going there and record a segment of it as a video and you could have a BDP Short Form-eligible piece. Just sayin’.