Lantern of Connection
Interactive installation inspired by the Korean lantern festival
A Wish Lantern is an interactive installation inspired by the Korean lantern festival (연등(燃燈)) and the tradition of making wishes for happiness, wellness, and good fortune. Drawing on the cultural symbolism of lanterns as sources of guidance and hope, it reimagines a time-honored custom within a contemporary setting, encouraging direct participation and personal connection.
Visitors are invited to insert a special coin inside the lantern. Each coin intensifies the lantern’s glow, weaving personal hopes into a collective tapestry of light. In return, the lantern releases a “lucky coin”—a symbolic token of a wish fulfilled—offering a tangible reminder of that shared moment.
Through this simple exchange, A Wish Lantern reflects the enduring human desire to find light in the darkness and to unite individual aspirations with a communal spirit. It encourages reflection on cultural continuity, the evolution of traditions, and how small gestures can foster deeper understanding. Ultimately, it celebrates the power of collective hope, demonstrating that what shines brightest often emerges from many hands, each contributing its wish for the future.
Process
Exterior Design - Lantern
Exterior Design - Coin
Traditional Korean lanterns are used in palace ceremonies and Lunar New Year celebrations. It has a symbolic meaning of light dispelling ignorance, etc.
The installation integrates a microcontroller, RFID technology, and simple mechanical components to create its interactive experience. Each special coin carries an RFID tag; when inserted into the lantern, an RFID reader detects the coin’s unique identifier and communicates this to the microcontroller. In response, the microcontroller increases the lantern’s LED brightness, symbolizing the growing collective of wishes. Simultaneously, it activates a servo-driven mechanism that dispenses a “lucky coin” for the visitor to take home.
Interaction Process
The user approaches the lantern with a special RFID-enabled coin
The user inserts the coin into the lantern
Lantern responds
Neo Pixel LED activation and brightness increase
Visual effects based on the number of coins inserted
Steady glow for initial insertions
The rainbow effect at certain milestones (ex. 5,10,15 coins)
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#include <SPI.h>
#include <MFRC522.h>
#include <Servo.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#define SS_PIN 10
#define RST_PIN 9
#define SERVO_PIN 3
#define NEOPIXEL_PIN 7
#define NUM_PIXELS 110
#define INITIAL_BRIGHTNESS 1
MFRC522 rfid(SS_PIN, RST_PIN);
Servo myServo;
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels(NUM_PIXELS, NEOPIXEL_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
unsigned long lastResetTime = 0;
const unsigned long RESET_INTERVAL = 60000; // Reset every 60 seconds
unsigned long rfidDetectedTime = 0;
const unsigned long SERVO_DELAY = 5000; // 5-second delay for servo activation
byte tagIds[][4] = {
{186, 96, 158, 63},
{138, 96, 158, 63},
{154, 96, 158, 63},
{250, 105, 158, 63},
{234, 105, 158, 63},
{74, 96, 158, 63},
{170, 96, 158, 63},
{106, 98, 158, 63},
{218, 105, 158, 63},
{106, 96, 158, 63},
{58, 96, 158, 63},
{74, 106, 158, 63},
{90, 96, 158, 63},
{122, 96, 158, 63},
{202, 96, 158, 63}
};
int tagCounter = 0;
int currentBrightness = INITIAL_BRIGHTNESS;
bool waitingForServo = false;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
SPI.begin();
rfid.PCD_Init();
myServo.attach(SERVO_PIN);
myServo.write(0);
pixels.begin();
pixels.setBrightness(currentBrightness);
setWarmYellow();
pixels.show();
Serial.println("RFID 태그를 스캔해주세요...");
}
void loop() {
if (millis() - lastResetTime > RESET_INTERVAL) {
rfid.PCD_Reset();
rfid.PCD_Init();
lastResetTime = millis();
pixels.setBrightness(currentBrightness);
setWarmYellow();
pixels.show();
}
if (waitingForServo && millis() - rfidDetectedTime >= SERVO_DELAY) {
rotateServo();
waitingForServo = false;
setWarmYellow();
pixels.show();
}
if (waitingForServo) {
blinkNeoPixel(); // Blink white and yellow while waiting
return;
}
if (!rfid.PICC_IsNewCardPresent() || !rfid.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
delay(50);
return;
}
Serial.print("Card Tag ID: ");
String tag = "";
for (byte i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
Serial.print(rfid.uid.uidByte[i]);
Serial.print(" ");
tag += String(rfid.uid.uidByte[i]) + " ";
}
Serial.println();
bool isMatch = false;
for (int i = 0; i < 15; i++) {
if (checkTagMatch(rfid.uid.uidByte, tagIds[i])) {
isMatch = true;
break;
}
}
if (isMatch) {
tagCounter++;
Serial.println("태그 ID가 일치합니다.");
Serial.print("Tag count: ");
Serial.println(tagCounter);
rfidDetectedTime = millis();
waitingForServo = true;
if (tagCounter % 5 == 0) {
rainbowEffect();
} else {
increaseBrightness();
}
} else {
Serial.println("일치하지 않는 태그입니다. 새로운 태그 ID:");
Serial.println(tag);
blinkNeoPixel();
}
rfid.PICC_HaltA();
rfid.PCD_StopCrypto1();
delay(500);
}
void setWarmYellow() {
pixels.fill(pixels.Color(242, 186, 73)); // #f2ba49 in RGB
}
void rotateServo() {
myServo.write(160); // Rotate to 160 degrees
delay(500); // Wait for 500 milliseconds
myServo.write(0); // Return to 0 degrees
delay(500); // Wait for 500 milliseconds
}
bool checkTagMatch(byte* tagToCheck, byte* storedTag) {
for (byte i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
if (tagToCheck[i] != storedTag[i]) {
return false;
}
}
return true;
}
void increaseBrightness() {
currentBrightness += 2;
if (currentBrightness > 100) currentBrightness = 100;
pixels.setBrightness(currentBrightness);
setWarmYellow();
pixels.show();
}
void blinkNeoPixel() {
static unsigned long lastBlinkTime = 0;
static bool blinkState = false;
if (millis() - lastBlinkTime >= 200) {
lastBlinkTime = millis();
blinkState = !blinkState;
if (blinkState) {
pixels.fill(pixels.Color(255, 255, 255)); // White
} else {
pixels.fill(pixels.Color(242, 186, 73)); // Warm yellow
}
pixels.show();
}
}
void rainbowEffect() {
for(int j = 0; j < 128; j++) {
for(int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
int pixelHue = (i 65536L / NUM_PIXELS + j 512) & 0xFFFF;
pixels.setPixelColor(i, pixels.gamma32(pixels.ColorHSV(pixelHue)));
}
pixels.show();
delay(10);
}
pixels.fill(pixels.Color(242, 186, 73)); // Return to yellowish-red
pixels.show();
}
void resetSystem() {
tagCounter = 0;
currentBrightness = INITIAL_BRIGHTNESS;
myServo.write(0);
pixels.setBrightness(currentBrightness);
setWarmYellow();
pixels.show();
Serial.println("시스템이 리셋되었습니다. 새로운 사이클을 시작합니다.");
}
How will people engage with your project?
People will be invited to interact directly with the lantern by inserting a special coin into it. As they do so, the lantern’s glow intensifies, reflecting their contribution to a shared collection of wishes. In return, participants receive a “lucky coin” as a tangible keepsake of their experience.
Designed by Luna Park. 2024