Wearable Raspberry Pi - Project HUDPi
by Darzen in Circuits > Raspberry Pi
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Wearable Raspberry Pi - Project HUDPi
First off, I'm starting this project as a way for normal people with little money to have a nice experience in augmented reality, but I haven't advanced that much yet. The total cost of this project was $40 and much patience.
Please leave comments and, if you made one, leave a picture for all to see! Let's begin!
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Wanna look like a freak show/cyborg down at local Mall where the regular freak show's hang out and hang-over?
Bad joke. Sorry.
Then the wearable DIY Raspberry Pi is for you! The Pi itself is not DIY, but the rest of the set is.
The reason I built this was to enter it into the 2017 Raspberry Pi Contest. I figured "Why not, I can do it and have been wanting to do it for a year now but I was too lazy to do it so now I will do it (Too many 'Do It's')" If you like my project, (Thus will be a continuing project) Please show some love and subscribe for more awesome content!
Anyway, all pleasantries tried and aside, let's move along!
Please leave comments and, if you made one, leave a picture for all to see! Let's begin!
-----------------------------------
Wanna look like a freak show/cyborg down at local Mall where the regular freak show's hang out and hang-over?
Bad joke. Sorry.
Then the wearable DIY Raspberry Pi is for you! The Pi itself is not DIY, but the rest of the set is.
The reason I built this was to enter it into the 2017 Raspberry Pi Contest. I figured "Why not, I can do it and have been wanting to do it for a year now but I was too lazy to do it so now I will do it (Too many 'Do It's')" If you like my project, (Thus will be a continuing project) Please show some love and subscribe for more awesome content!
Anyway, all pleasantries tried and aside, let's move along!
Requisition Supplies
The main supplies you need to requisition are the RPI obviously, but also a monitor. Monitor is key, because without it, you can't see the desktop! The monitors you can use are ones that are preferably small, usually under 3 inches. The monitor I use was from an old camcorder, you can find the tutorial HERE.
The other stuff you need is:
1. A3.5mm to RCA video cable
2. An RCA to 3.5mm audio adapter.
3. Some sort of battery pack to power the RPI and Monitor for a few hours at least
4. A USB mouse (I'll be using BPSK's tutorial, Wearable Mouse)
5. A USB keyboard (For Pi Setup)
6. Raspbian. (The operating system that is usually first installed on the RPI)
7. Don't ask me why, but also an SD card, 4GB in size at least if you don't have one already.
Initial Testing
Remember, whatever your setup is, whatever you have available, use it. Even I'm not following my own tutorial! I don't have a 3.5mm video cable, so I chopped up one from a set of ear buds and jimmy-rigged it to an audio/video output!
So just get everything working first, before you tape it all up. Plug the RPI in, make sure Raspbian starts up... Plug it in to your tiny monitor, make sure that works and also, check your battery pack. Nothing is worst than a "dud" battery pack!
Once everything is plugged in and working, make sure the resolution looks good, see that you can make basic navigation with the mouse.
Once you've finished, move on to the next step.
So just get everything working first, before you tape it all up. Plug the RPI in, make sure Raspbian starts up... Plug it in to your tiny monitor, make sure that works and also, check your battery pack. Nothing is worst than a "dud" battery pack!
Once everything is plugged in and working, make sure the resolution looks good, see that you can make basic navigation with the mouse.
Once you've finished, move on to the next step.
Set Up Raspbian
Before you go all out and tape this thing up, you need to make some mods to the Operating System.
First off, you need to make sure the screen resolution is set to something like 600x400 because of the small screen size. If you screen offers better resolution, by all means set it as high as it will go! Also, if you can't read the letters, you may need to change the size. The option is under:
Start->Preferences->Display
Second off, you need an on-screen keyboard. You don't wanna lug around a big Dell keyboard on your back all day do you? If you do, I won't judge you.
Run the following commands in a terminal session:
# sudo apt-get update
# sudo apt-get upgrade
# sudo apt-get install florence
# florence
(Don't add the # pound mark)
This will install an on-screen keyboard that you can use with the mouse only. Just click the key you want and it will be entered. You might also want to add the keyboard shortcut to your desktop. It should be under:
Start->Accessories->Florence
You can add it to the desktop for a quick start.
First off, you need to make sure the screen resolution is set to something like 600x400 because of the small screen size. If you screen offers better resolution, by all means set it as high as it will go! Also, if you can't read the letters, you may need to change the size. The option is under:
Start->Preferences->Display
Second off, you need an on-screen keyboard. You don't wanna lug around a big Dell keyboard on your back all day do you? If you do, I won't judge you.
Run the following commands in a terminal session:
# sudo apt-get update
# sudo apt-get upgrade
# sudo apt-get install florence
# florence
(Don't add the # pound mark)
This will install an on-screen keyboard that you can use with the mouse only. Just click the key you want and it will be entered. You might also want to add the keyboard shortcut to your desktop. It should be under:
Start->Accessories->Florence
You can add it to the desktop for a quick start.
Tape It Up! (Do Not Shake It Up!)
Add all the stuff to your bag.
Whatever way you can (gently) shove the RPI in where the cords aren't getting jammed up too uncomfortable, do it. Also make room for the battery pack and cords.
Make sure all the cables are connected and in place. Run the video/monitor power/audio cable out the hole and up to the display. Plug in the headphones and put on the Mouse-in-a-Glove.
I will mount my display to a Ball-Cap
Whatever way you can (gently) shove the RPI in where the cords aren't getting jammed up too uncomfortable, do it. Also make room for the battery pack and cords.
Make sure all the cables are connected and in place. Run the video/monitor power/audio cable out the hole and up to the display. Plug in the headphones and put on the Mouse-in-a-Glove.
I will mount my display to a Ball-Cap
Mounting Everything
If you have belt loops in your pants, you can clip the Pi-in-a-Bag to the belt and run all external wires up on whatever side of your body that the HUD will be mounted.
For me I like to keep things simple, so for the HUD, I'll duck tape it to the cap.
As far as the mouse goes, I will simply be following BPSK's tutorial. You can too, or do whatever suits you.
For me I like to keep things simple, so for the HUD, I'll duck tape it to the cap.
As far as the mouse goes, I will simply be following BPSK's tutorial. You can too, or do whatever suits you.
Final Preperation
Now whenever you're ready, don your cap and face the reality of the Pi!
Whenever the battery pack needs charging, just slip it out of the pack and charge it/replace the batteries.
Whenever using HUDPi, make sure you don't walk across streets without looking, or walking in general. Don't trip over the cat and keep those wires neat!
Whenever the battery pack needs charging, just slip it out of the pack and charge it/replace the batteries.
Whenever using HUDPi, make sure you don't walk across streets without looking, or walking in general. Don't trip over the cat and keep those wires neat!
Conclusion
Well, this has been an interesting project. I can use it like a desktop computer, only attached to me!
I wish to give credit to BPSK for his "Wearable Mouse" tutorial.
Special thanks to "Rocky" Racoon for modeling today.
I wish to give credit to BPSK for his "Wearable Mouse" tutorial.
Special thanks to "Rocky" Racoon for modeling today.