Control playback on a TV with an IR sensor

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi everyone. I am fairly new to this and would love some input from the more experienced.

I have a project idea of an installation made up of several tv screens (or computer monitors i suppose) that will be playing a video on loop. I want the video to play when someone stands in front of it and pause when they dont. I think the easiest way to do this is with an IR sensor (even a light sensor possibly) and either hack the tv or the tv remote in order to play and pause the video.

What do you suggest i do? What would be the easiest way of going about this? any help is appreciated.

2

Hi,

Two things:
(1) Sense Human
-- the best method if they are at some distance away is probably the classic Infrared "motion detector" .
Example: http://arduino-direct.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=43
-- If you want to sense when the human is NEAR the object, a ultrasonic sensor is better. And it won't stop sensing them if they stand very still, like the 'Motion' detector.
Example: http://arduino-direct.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=121

(2) Control video player
-- Depends on the unit. If there is a switch you can close, perhaps use a relay
Example: http://arduino-direct.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=155
-- If the unit has a IR type remote, you can record and later play back the needed commands with a small Infrared detector and infrared emitter
Example: maybe test with this, then add a separate emitter for $2 or so: http://arduino-direct.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=153

You should be able to operate 4 or more units with one Arduino.

DISCLAIMER: I mentioned stuff from my own Shop... which is the stuff I am most familiar with: YMMV

Tell us what you endup doing: Interesting concept...

3

If you want to sense when the human is NEAR the object, a ultrasonic sensor is better

I cannot say if it is universally true but the ultrasonic sensor from Parallax does not work well with humans. The best results seem to be when the sensor is pinging constantly and pointed squarely at a man's thinly shirted chest. With everything else I tried, the results were unreliable. In some cases, it just didn't work (knee height, person walking slowly).

4

Absolutely doable!

Look above for the detection part and use Ken's frankly amazing lib to control the video players:

You can control a HUGE variety of IR devices with this lib.