MiniPOV 2

The MiniPOV2 is a persistence-of-vision device that rapidly blinks 8 LEDs on and off so that when waved through the air, an image or message appears to float in front of the viewer.

MIT engineer Limor Fried originally cooked up the MiniPOV2 as an easy-to-build demonstration showing how microcontrollers work. She wanted something that was easy to make, inexpensive, and simple. This little kit, says Limor, teaches several not so little lessons:

• How to solder
• How to assemble simple kits
• How to program microcontrollers

The kit includes a Microcontroller, sockets, resistors, LEDs, connectors, a battery case and a printed circuit board. Add some basic tools, a PC with a parallel port, and a little programming, and the MiniPOV is ready to blink out your deepest thoughts.