It used to be that the only place animation could be screened was on a rectangular screen, be it a large theatrical screen, or more modest TV and computer screens. Things are changing though. Today, animation is projected onto irregularly-shaped three-dimensional buildings and trees in nature. It’s painted on subway tunnels where it can be viewed from a moving subway car. And now, thanks to MonkeyLectric, animation can be seen on bicycle wheels:
Over the past few years, the small Berkeley, California-based company has developed a number of prototypes. The Monkey Light Pro Bicycle Wheel Display System is their most advanced product to date with over 256 full-color LEDs on each wheel. Their system allows users to upload approximately 90 seconds of animation in a variety of media formats including AVI, MPEG, MOV, Quicktime, and FLV, and to display it to the public while riding a bike.
To start manufacturing the Monkey Light Pro, they’ve launched a Kickstarter campaign with a funding goal of $180,000 by July 21st. They’ve already raised over $68,000 during the first three days of the campaign. The lights aren’t cheap—prices range from $495 to $795 per wheel depending at what stage of the campaign the product is ordered—but that’s a small price to pay to advance animation beyond the rectangular screen and share it throughout the city streets.
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