My brain hurst

[opengswede]

Hi.

I'm one of those guys who plan and develop ideas, but never seem to complete, or even start them (at least if you ask my girlfriend). Anyway, i've been going back and forth on this forum and others, collecting ideas and I think i'm ready to present the one i've been working on.

Since i'm not really into taking an existing case and modding it, i'm more into building from scratch (and yes, it can be tricky, but bare with me here).
The idea is the following.

Think of a brain, in plexi, with sanded (or cut) sulci (the valleys). Now, spread out across the brain will be white LEDs which I aim to connect to an IC. The IC in turn is hooked up to the computer via the serial port. The LEDs are meant to flash in random pattern, but the frequency of the flashes is based on CPU usage. I think that this would look pretty neat, especially when CPU usage goes up, such as playing compressed media or compiling stuff.

Am i making any sense so far?

The brain will be hooked up to my mythtv box (running Gentoo linux) and getting a program to send CPU load to the serial port is the least of my worries.
Now to a few questions:
1. Is there anyone how know of a pre-manufactured board that can handle the signal from the serial port in the mannor described? A small IC which randomize activity over LEDs.
2. Do you think the project is feasible?
3. (this is my biggest dilemma right now) Should I paint the brain (at least on the gyri (ridges)? Or, should i put glossy plastic on it, to make it look more moist?

The third question could probably be dealt with way later... as I said before, I'm not really good at making my project come to life, time and whatnot is a big factor here. But if I do, i'll promise to show the progress here.

best

[Nawl]

Välkommen !

[Jetty_200]

....what:S?

[pure_rock_fury]

One possible solution would be to go the hobby shop and find those medical models. They normally have a cut away of the brain there. You could either use the brain, or make it into a mold and cast it. As for the paint, I think it would be cool to make it as realistic as possible, I would deffinately paint it. Some high gloss clear would give it that gory wet look.

I don't want to encroach on your idea too much here, but what about making the brain look "bio-mechanical". Could take a screeeny of an old school circuit board and turn that into a temp to make some connections between the LED's

Here is a quick link to what I mean. http://www.pjrc.com/tech/8051/board5/pcb.html.

Are you intending to make this a complete case or just an add on that sits to the side? I recall a case that was made using mirrors where you couldn't see any of the inside components... quick search... grr can't find it right now. Basically the person used a mirror on an angle to hide the mobo and components. That is another thought to chew on. This sounds like a pretty cool idea, hopefully you will get a chance to try this one.

[opengswede]

Thanks for the response.

First of, i'm not going to make it bio-mechanical, not that it's an interesting idea, it's more that i would never be allowed to put it in our livingroom

Second, I've thought about a mold or use an existing brain, but the ones i've seen are either too small or not see-through. and the whole point would be to have a the brain in clear plastic and then wet sand the parts that is going to be lit, ie the sulci. That way the light will spread across a sulcus.
I'll do a more thourogh googling to see if i can find a good model brain in a size that i need.

Painting will be done then. and perhaps add some veins running across the whole thing, either with LEDs in it or not... we just have to see.

For clarification, the brain will probably be sitting on top of a box (for now) containing my computer (a mini-itx, single HD). I might do something different with that too, but that will be a different story.

[Aero]

what you could do is build a plexiglass box, fill it with a mixture of some sort to make it foggy and put the brain inside it, this would make it look like something from a move and the water would hide any small "mistakes" in the brain (in wouldn't need to be perfect).

For the fesibility of the project I don't see why it couldn't be done. It sounds like a cool idea to me. If you or someone can program the lights then it should be fine.

[jdbnsn]

Do you work in the medical field by chance? I don't hear many refer to sulci and gyri on a daily basis, not that it's arcane knowledge or anything. Just a thought, not sure what size you want you brain, but a good shape for a mold could be the inside (or outside to make a cast) of a helmet. An old WWII from army surplus British style would work good, and you could model your sulci and gyri with modelling clay, to serve as a template for your plastic one later. And you don't need to worry about wire management, just paint them all red or blue and you have capillary beds...

[opengswede]

Do you work in the medical field by chance? I don't hear many refer to sulci and gyri on a daily basis, not that it's arcane knowledge or anything. Just a thought, not sure what size you want you brain, but a good shape for a mold could be the inside (or outside to make a cast) of a helmet. An old WWII from army surplus British style would work good, and you could model your sulci and gyri with modelling clay, to serve as a template for your plastic one later. And you don't need to worry about wire management, just paint them all red or blue and you have capillary beds...

No, not in medical, but I am a cognitive scientist, and what we do is study the brain... I might even use my own as a model (if the pictures I have have high enough resolution).
About the mold using a helmet. good idea, i've been thinking of how to make the shape, and a helmet would fit nicely.
Anyone know of any plastic i could use that is easily shapable inside a mold, see-through, or at least let light through, and not that toxic that i end up frying my own brain (i've grown attached to it over the years).
THanks for the advice.
Erik

[opengswede]

what you could do is build a plexiglass box, fill it with a mixture of some sort to make it foggy and put the brain inside it, this would make it look like something from a move and the water would hide any small "mistakes" in the brain (in wouldn't need to be perfect).

I like the idea, but what is "mixture of some sort" is that a technical term i'm missing in my lexical inventory?

I'll be considering this as an option, although my aim is to have the surface of the brain the outermost surface (ie i want to be able to touch it).
hmm, that sounds a bit kinky, but i'm aiming for gore here and touch is part of it I think.

For the programming bit, i'm into learning this myself so help is appreciated but the goal is to build it all myself (nothing is as satisfacory as doing it yourself, no?).

No, work is demanding attention...
Thanks
Erik

[jdbnsn]

Are you going for a hard, plastic surface, or something more pliable? Cause if your going for realism (assuming fresh and not preserved) that's gonna be squishy! ewww