Vaccine simulation - addressable LED strip

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi,

I'm developing a vaccination simulation for a science centre exhibit, but have little coding experience. It has been previously recommended that I use an addressable LED strip with 50 LEDs, arranged in a matrix. Do you have any advice on tutorials or previous examples similar to what I'm trying to do?

Visitors will press one of Button A, B, C to "vaccinate" and then press Button D to watch a "disease spread".

Button A: Randomly light up 15/50 LED blue
Button B: Randomly light up 25/50 LED blue
Button C: Randomly light up 47/50 LED blue

if blue lit up, stays lit up, will not change red, act as barriers to spreading red

Button D: randomly light up one red, then anything touching a red LED (if not already blue) lights up, anything touching those red LED light up, etc. until all LED are lit up

Anything is appreciated!

2

Look at the Adafruit site. They sell LED strips they call Neopixels and have tutorials with example code.

3

sfowler:
Hi,

I'm developing a vaccination simulation for a science centre exhibit, but have little coding experience. It has been previously recommended that I use an addressable LED strip with 50 LEDs, arranged in a matrix. Do you have any advice on tutorials or previous examples similar to what I'm trying to do?

Visitors will press one of Button A, B, C to "vaccinate" and then press Button D to watch a "disease spread".

Button A: Randomly light up 15/50 LED blue
Button B: Randomly light up 25/50 LED blue
Button C: Randomly light up 47/50 LED blue

if blue lit up, stays lit up, will not change red, act as barriers to spreading red

Button D: randomly light up one red, then anything touching a red LED (if not already blue) lights up, anything touching those red LED light up, etc. until all LED are lit up

Anything is appreciated!

The Neopixels come in either 30 LEDs per meter or 60 LEDs per meter.
To make a matrix, you would need discard 10 LEDs and to cut up the remainder into 3 pieces.
They have double-sided tape so you can mount on plexiglass.

You will need to do some soldering though.

You may also want to strongly consider 64x32 RGB LED Matrix - 5mm pitch : ID 2277 : $49.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits where you don't have to worry about anything except writing code.
Adafruit is based in NYC, and they have a forum where you can ask questions.

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