Workshop - Build-A-Blinkie

Build-A-Blinkie is where you get a kit (circuit board, LEDs, and other electronic parts) and solder them together to make a working (and wearable) blinkie. The ability to solder is not required, as we have a number of techs that will help you out. Don't worry, hundreds of folks of all ages have been building blinkies - many of them who have never soldered before.

If you're willing try, we'll make sure you end up with a working Blinkie - built by you!


Sat, 8am-10am: Free-For-All

Never built a Blinkie before? This is the session dedicated to anyone who wants to try their hand at building a Blinkie for the first time. We have free kit that is fun and easy to build - the 6 LED Circle.

6 LED Circle Blinkie Board

6 LED Circle

It's a 2.0" by 2.5" double-sided circuit board with a mounting pin on the back side that requires assembly and soldering. It has 6 single color LEDs that will display various user-selectable patterns. There is an IR emitter and receiver for two way communication to other blinkie boards.

Oh, that two way communciation part? Let me tell you about that. Each blinkie has multiple patterns stored in it. Whatever pattern your blinkie is currently displaying, it is also actively trying to get the blinkies built by others to switch to its pattern. It's trying to hack, or "infect" them. Of course, the other blinkies are trying to do the same thing, so it becomes quite the battle...


Sat, 10am-4pm: Open Session

Select your favorite kit from any of the ones below, and build away! There is a charge for these, but we've worked very hard to keep it as reasonable and as affordable as possible. Enjoy!

14 RGB LED Stick

14 RGB LED Stick Blinkie Board

New for DemiCon 20! The 19 LED Stick was very popular, so we've improved upon the design. Thus we bring you the 14 RGB Stick with all the dazzling colors of the rainbow!

It's a 0.6" by 9.0" double-sided circuit board with a hole for hanging from a lanyard. It has 14 RGB LEDs that will display various eye-catching patterns. There is an IR emitter and receiver for two way communication to other blinkie boards.

Simple 4 Blinkie Board

Simple 4

We picked up some special LEDs with a built in flasher chip and we were so impressed with them, we created a simple board around them.

It's a 1.5" by 1.5" double-sided circuit circuit board with a mounting pin on the back side that requires assembly and soldering.

4 RGB LED Blinkie Board

4 RGB LED

Based on the same eye-catching full color LEDs of the 14 RGB Stick, this is a simpler and quicker to assemble kit. Nevertheless, you will be impressed by the beauty that is packed into this board.

It's a 1.4" by 2.2" double-sided circuit board with a mounting pin on the back side that requires assembly and soldering. It has 4 RGB LEDs that will display various user-selectable patterns. There is an IR emitter and receiver for two way communication to other blinkie boards.

19 LED Circle Blinkie Board

19 LED Circle

Following the concept that more is better, this is an improvement of the 6 LED Circle, allowing a much more impressive patterns to be displayed!

It's a 1.8" by 2.6" double-sided circuit board with a mounting pin on the back side that requires assembly and soldering. It has 19 single or bi-color LEDs that will display various user-selectable patterns and text messages. There is an IR emitter and receiver for two way communication to other blinkie boards.

5x7 Matrix Blinkie Board

5x7 Matrix

By far the most complex of the bunch. We went a bit overboard (pun intended) on this one. It has patterns, it has messages. And we even built in the ability to change the first message via a standard IR remote controller.

It's a 1.8" by 2.95" double-sided circuit board with a mounting pin on the back side that requires assembly and soldering. It has 35 single or bi-color LEDs that will display various user-selectable patterns and text messages. There is an IR emitter and receiver for two way communication to other blinkie boards. One of the special features of the 5x7 is the ability to customize the first scrolling text message.

3x3 Matrix Blinkie Board

3x3 Matrix

Another one were we got carried away with. You'll note there are five push buttons on this board. We have the "dice mode" implemented - now we'll see what other features we can add between now and DemiCon 20...

It's a 2.1" by 3.2" double-sided circuit board with a mounting pin on the back side that requires assembly and soldering. It has 9 single or bi-color LEDs that will display various user-selectable patterns. There is an IR emitter and receiver for two way communication to other blinkie boards.

19 LED Stick

19 LED Stick Blinkie Board

Beyond the hypnotic patterns, this board has one other clever use. Think of Halloween and the possibilies with carving a Cylon Pumpkin...

It's a 0.6" by 7.25" double-sided circuit board with a hole for hanging from a lanyard that requires assembly and soldering. It has 19 single color LEDs that will display various user-selectable patterns. There is an IR emitter and receiver for two way communication to other blinkie boards.