Noel created a wireless version of CheerLights using ioBridge and XBee Radios from Digi. He added random colors sequences and schedules using the ioBridge API to turn off his lights during the daytime and back on at night. The results are spectacular from the aptly named Noel!
I’m an avid fan of all things connected to the Internet (aka the internet of things) and love hacking and tinkering away in my free time. This year I decided to join other folks in a social Christmas lights experiment called Cheerlights. The project provided an API powered by the thinkspeak.com platform that allowed users to subscribe to the latest color tweeted.
[via My Web of Things Blog / The AppsLab]
Cheerlights by PepperSuite on Flickr.
Arduino Ethernet + ShiftBrite LED = CheerLights
Ben Konosky wrote some Arduino source code to allow an Arduino with Ethernet Shield to connect to the CheerLights API (via ThingSpeak) and adjust the color of a ChiftBrite LED module. Ben’s trick was to get all of the libraries to fit on the Arduino’s file space. This code is highly reusable and should make it easy for those that are making CheerLights with ShiftBrite lights. Ben’s code is available now on GitHub and more information can be found on his “Little Piece of the Web” blog.
Here is a demonstration of shifting between colors using Arduino Ethernet and ShiftBrite LEDs:
CheerioBot: It can be your friend or enemy
It was bound to happen. When you start connecting things, they may turn on you. CheerioBot can be your follower or rebel against your control. This amazing little bot can tweet it’s own colors when the CheerLights Twitter feed is slow. It’s very interesting to think that this device is essentially in a symbiotic relationship with itself and the rest of the world. As with any “good” bot, CheerioBot can turn against the system and rebel by setting itself to another color than what CheerLights is telling it to. I never imagined this when I created CheerLights, but now I can’t imagine the project without the CheerioBot!
[via Hack a Day]
Milwaukee Makerspace CheerLights Build
[Pete] from Milwaukee Makerspace created his own version of CheerLights using Arduino and ShiftBrite. Looks like he modified his cool Light Organ project as a starting point. Bonus points for using a Perl for the Internet of Things. Pete says to check back for more details…
Check out Hans Scharler of ioBridge and the Hack Pittsburgh gang! We show you how to build some CheerLights by hacking the usual suspects. The video was part of Make: Live Episode 22.
CheerLights Desktop Christmas Tree
[Jeff] teaches us how to make our very own CheerLights Christmas Tree that can sit on top of your desktop. Using an Arduino and an Arduino Ethernet Shield, this little tree subscribes to CheerLights and shows you the latest color. Check out MAKE Projects for a step-by-step of how to build this awesome little tree.
CheerLights Christmas Tree by Austin Robertson
[Austin Robertson] created a CheerLights powered Christmas Tree that display the latest colors using Arduino and some LEDs. He uses some Python to tap into the CheerLights Twitter feed and mixes colors from a few LEDs to get the latest CheerLights colors. Austin has the complete details, source code, and even a live look at his Christmas tree on his projects site. Visit Austin’s “@OHCHRISTMASTWEE Project” to learn more. (You can also follow his Christmas tree on Twitter and it always has a snappy response.)
CheerLights is now live on Ustream
Learn how to watch and control a live set of CheerLights by visiting CheerLights Live. Hans is streaming video from a webcam to Ustream. The demo is using the Arduino+ioBridge controller and the updates are instant. Go ahead and spread the cheer!

![Noel created a wireless version of CheerLights using ioBridge and XBee Radios from Digi. He added random colors sequences and schedules using the ioBridge API to turn off his lights during the daytime and back on at night. The results are spectacular from the aptly named Noel!
I’m an avid fan of all things connected to the Internet (aka the internet of things) and love hacking and tinkering away in my free time. This year I decided to join other folks in a social Christmas lights experiment called Cheerlights. The project provided an API powered by the thinkspeak.com platform that allowed users to subscribe to the latest color tweeted.
[via My Web of Things Blog / The AppsLab]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxap98M2Vk1r7utfio1_1280.jpg)


