#with a high familiarity with hardware/command line stuff/DIY stuff on the computer

[piedoesnotequalpi]

I guess the one advantage of having dated my ex is that I know about APKs (and therefore have evaded the horrible discord update)

[boomset]

5 DIY #EventTech Projects for the "Geeky" Planner

Image courtesy of Makezine

The world of do-it-yourself tech is enjoying a golden era. And while many factors are in play, two names are linked to DIY electronics’ rise in popularity: Raspberry Pi and Arduino.

A quick introduction if you’re not familiar with these two:

Raspberry Pi is a microcomputer about the size of a credit card. Its release in 2012 gave tinkers, programmers, and DIYers the platform they need to build their own electronics. Today, the Raspberry Pi is recognized as the most successful British computer.

Arduino, on the other hand, is a microcontroller that comes with a low power processing unit, plenty of connectors, and its own programming language. For implementing automations, Arduino is hard to beat!

If you want to see how these boards stack up against each other, you can check out this in-depth comparison.

Now…

Raspberry Pi and Arduino led to countless DIY electronics - from home automation controllers, alarm systems, to car dashboards. But in this post, we will look at projects that event planners like you may find useful. Have a look!

Enjoy Keyless Entry With An Arduino RFID Access Terminal

Keyless RFID entry can enhance your event in many ways. It can keep outsiders off of staff-only premises. RFID cards can also store a person’s name and other details, so you can track who enters and leaves a room. In addition, using something like RFID badges at check-in is also a great way to enhance security efforts and engage attendees.

Brian Carbonette over at Hackster.io shows you how to build a keyless entry system using Arduino, a handful of cheap hardware components, an open-source software, and a couple of ISO-certified tags.

Image courtesy of Hackster

Follow the guide. And should you successfully build one, you can extend its utility with a couple of tweaks. You can have the system log access stats to a spreadsheet. Or, you can add 2-factor authentication for a tighter event security.

Remotely Control A/V Equipment With Ease Using An Arduino Wifi IR Blaster

With all the talk about the “Internet of Things” and smart devices, you’d expect to be able to control any equipment from your smartphone. But what if your event budget is tight, leaving you with "dumb" devices?

For such situations, an IR blaster can prove handy. Not only does it emulate an infrared remote control. But an IR blaster can also extend infrared signals, so they can reach remote controlled gear located in odd angles or closed spaces.

Image courtesy of Arduino

User BuddyC from the Arduino Project Hub shared a guide on how to build a Wifi IR blaster / connected universal remote. The needed components and supplies are minimal, but you need to work with a soldering iron. (Read: Be careful!)

The project creator even integrated the blaster with Amazon Echo, allowing him to control old equipment using voice commands. He uses it everyday to control his AC unit and TV. And you can use it to control not-so-smart and clunky A/V gear hidden in the shelves.

Crowdsource Music With A Raspberry Pi Digital Jukebox

Awesome planners genuinely care about immersive experiences. And if you’re creating one, you know that a convention or show needs more than a matching venue and decor. Play the right kind of music, and you can take your attendees on a journey.

But here’s the problem:

Musical preferences differ wildly. And in a jam-packed event, picking the right tunes to keep guests happy can be a hassle.

But not when you have a digital jukebox like CheckinDJ.

Image courtesy of New Atlas

CheckinDJ is a digital jukebox system developed by Paul Coulton and Mark Lochrie of Lancaster University. It uses NFC tags and Raspberry Pi to poll a crowd’s musical tastes and stream songs from their favorite genres. Here’s how CheckinDJ works:

Users check in by tapping their NFC tag (linked to their social networking identity) to the Raspberry Pi jukebox. CheckinDJ asks users to pick 3 genres and then creates a curated playlist from the crowd’s fave genre.

Note, too, that the system places greater weight on votes from people with connected friends in the venue. To keep the good sounds coming, the system streams high-quality audio from Spotify and updates the poll every 20 seconds.

And to prevent people from tipping the poll to their favor, CheckinDJ places a limit on the number of times a guest can check in.

Treat Guests To A Light Show Using Python And Pi

Attendees love great music. But here’s something even better - awesome tunes with well-timed light effects to go with it. Why do you think 32 million people in the US travel 903 miles on average to attend a music festival?

Now, your live event may not have the budget similar to that of Coachella or SXSW. But you can treat your guests to a synchronized music and light show. All you need is a Raspberry Pi 3, LED strips, speakers, and a couple of connectors.

Image courtesy of Tech Story

The LED light display was developed by 3 software engineers from Microsoft. It is capable of controlling its color, brightness, and flashes depending on the song selection.

Now, this DIY project requires some coding, and you’re probably thinking:

“This Pi-powered light display is nice. But event planning is hard as it is, and I have no time to learn how to code.”

Good point! But should you change your mind, know that the entire project runs on Python. A coding language easy enough to learn in a few hours, even for non-programmers. Moreover, the software engineers were kind enough to share the meaty details, including their references for the code.

Build An Affordable Pi-Powered Video Wall

Image courtesy of Hackaday

Video walls are a mainstay at events - and for a long list of good reasons if I may add.

• For weddings: A bezel-free LED wall can display dynamic visual content such as a professionally edited video, well-wishes from families and friends, and the couple’s photographs from yesteryears.

• For tradeshows and exhibits: A video wall can provide an excellent sponsorship opportunity. You can deliver brand messages from partners along with discounts and special offers that’s sure to catch your guests’ attention.

Simply put:

If you can imagine it, a video wall can display it!

However, the costs associated with building such a wall can overwhelm an event planner’s budget. You see, every screen requires a device to control its output, and you’d need another device to bring every piece of the puzzle together.

The usual video wall solutions use all sorts of equipment in the backend. Service providers often turn to Playstations for video transmission. But while a dozen or two Playstation consoles (about $100 each) can get the job done, they’re costly and power-hungry.

Enter the Raspberry Pi video wall.

The same rules apply. You need a Pi for every monitor and a master Pi to control the entire setup. But with the most advanced Pi priced at only $35, the hardware component of your video wall won’t leave your wallet dry.

And even better:

The software component won’t cost you a dime! Tech geek and embedded systems expert Alex Goodyear developed an open-source software to spread video over a network of displays. (Here’s the installation guide.)

Conclusion

Event professionals already wear many hats - from negotiator, networker, to venue inspector and more. If you want to add savvy do-it-yourselfer to your resume, this guide will hopefully help you create stuff you’ll find handy in the line of duty.

Guest Author Bio: Mark Kao is the department manager of COSRental, a London-based tech and A/V solutions provider. When he’s meeting with clients or closing deals, Mark is busy reading the latest news (and drama?) from the tech industry.

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Topics: event industry trends, event technology