About

Concept of LUMO developed for our pitch to ThinkGeek

We believe kids should have an opportunity to play physically, and to create their own fun. We also think that there's nothing quite as amazing as playing outside or turning a cardboard box into a spaceship.

Unfortunately, sometimes cardboard boxes and outside play aren't practical. This is where LUMO comes in.

LUMO is a ceiling mounted light fixture that contains an interactive LED projector, a motion sensor, and a tiny computer. LUMO lights up your child's floor with interactive games and effects.

LUMO promotes movement and imaginative play in children of any age by augmenting their physical environment in a fun, interactive way.

Our company designs interactive experiences for thousands of people around the world. We have created interactive projections for education, advertising, and events. For the past 3 years our team has been refining and optimizing our software and creative tools. We are world leaders in creating unique and engaging interactive projection games for children and adults.

LUMO is the result of years of experience designing and building interactive projection installations for clients from Tokyo to New York. Our work with children inspired us to create a plug and play toy designed to transform a child's space, using the same award-winning technology we've developed for museums and children's events. With your help, we will share this revolutionary new toy with the world.

It's time for families to benefit from an interactive toy that not only encourages kids to move, but also teaches them to make their own games.

LUMO gives children:

WHOLE BODY MOTION CONTROL While waving your arms around in front of a screen is kind of fun, we believe kids should be running. Jumping. Flying. (Well... maybe not flying.)

AUGMENTED IMAGINATIVE PLAY Games and effects are projected across a large area of the floor. One moment your child's room is a magical forest, the next it's a race track, then a hockey rink, then a mermaid's pool....

CHILD FRIENDLY CREATION TOOLS We believe good toys should support the spirit of invention throughout childhood. LUMO provides children with easy, web-based tools to create games, using their own artwork and imaginations.

Super easy creation tools allow kids to create their own interactive effects and save them. Parents can then log in and download and/or share the games and effects. If a child can draw, they can make an interactive floor.

CURRENT GAME TEMPLATES

Herding Things: make little animals that you have to herd to a specific place before time runs out

Soccer: change the field, the ball, the nets, and the messages when a goal is scored and when the game ends)

Hockey (change the rink, the ball, the nets, and the messages when a goal is scored and when the game ends

Greedy Greedy Gators: this is like that awesome game we all played as kids with the hippos and the marbles, except less messy. And you jump on your animal instead of just hitting a button. You can design your own version of hippos.

Smash Stuff!: You make things, you smash things, you earn points. Design the things and how they move, and what they look like when they smash

Maze: Make your own maze. Get your marble through the maze as quick as you can by chasing it around. Avoid obstacles - you design your own obstacles too.

Xtreme Hopscotch: Design things that you have to jump on as they scroll by. Speeds up over time.

Puzzle game: Like a rubix cube for your floor. Make 6 pictures. Sections of each picture will be put on the side of a cube, which rotates when you jump on it. Try to jump on the cubes quickly to reassemble an image before time runs out.

CURRENT EFFECT TEMPLATES

Fog reveal: Draw two pictures, one on top of the other. As you move, the top picture melts foggily to reveal the back picture. Simulate x-ray vision.

Ripples: Put ripples on any picture. Ripples appear when you move, as though the picture is underwater.

Confetti: Draw something that explodes into confetti when you move. Much cleaner then real confetti.

Scatter: Draw many little particles that scatter away from you as you move, revealing your background design underneath.

Follow: Draw little things or animals that follow you across a background you design.

Trails: Design magical trails made from many particles you draw yourself (stars, rainbows, bicycle wheels... whatever you want). As you move, trails form behind you on a background that you design.

Breakapart: Take any image and make it smash to pieces and reform when you move. You design the background and the image that breaks apart.

Pond: A realistic fishpond. You can control the type, number, size, and speed of the fish. The fish swim away when you walk over the pond, and ripples appear. You design your own background.

Due to our backers enthusiasm for making their own games and effects, we ARE going to provide an SDK for LUMO. We will be designing it primarily to support developers who want to add to the library of templates, but we expect people to take it in directions we never could have imagined, which is going to be fun to watch.

If we exceed our target by even a little, we will:

Add parental controls so that LUMO plays a special, 'let's clean up your room' game with your child if the sensor detects that his room is messy. (Or her. Girls can be messy too, sometimes.)

Offer an adapter kit so you can point LUMO at the wall and stream movies to it.

Share CAD and AI plans so you can make your own custom cover for LUMO at Ponoko.com or your local Maker Space.

LUMO is still in final engineering, so it will be a few months before we have a packaged fixture. But that's good news, because it means you can help design it! The last thing we want to do it make something ugly people don't want.

ADDED OCT. 16: Here is the latest concept, developed for ThinkGeek, which is a bit more flexible but does not have an ambient room light or wireless access. This concept will retail at a much lower price ($200-$300) but will not be as bright (120 Lumens instead of 200). We expect this version will be easier to get to market because of it's lower price point and higher flexibility.

Here is a concept design for a hardwired LUMO with a Lumen count of 200.

As you can see, the cover will be customized. We're excited about the design ideas our backers have already shared with us. Every backer will have a chance to get involved in the design process. We will provide DIY LUMO lovers plans so they can use Ponoko and Maker Spaces to create their own custom covers for LUMO!

We would really like to produce both versions, as there is an inherent advantage to the hardwired version's no-cords design, particularly in a child's room.

However, after running this campaign we've come to realize the importance of flexibility and ease of use, and we recognize that many people do not want to actually install LUMO as a permanent fixture.

LUMO is currently comprised of 4 basic parts, all packed in to a light fixture that replaces the room light in your kid's bedroom.

What's inside LUMO?

PICO Projector

Micro Processor (with wireless capabilities)

Sensor (for picking up motion)

Light Source

We are adding a speaker as well, but this is not in the diagram.

The current LUMO prototype. A customizable shell with ambient light is now being developed for the housing.

This is all the power supplies, which will be amalgamated into one magical cable that will have the option to plug directly into an existing light socket.

The main components - a projector, camera and processor - will be combined into one unit. The light source will be outside the component housing, under a customizable cover.

We are also adding ambient LED lighting. We've got a pretty nifty LED bulb that can be operated remotely and changes color, but we haven't built a box that can fit it in nicely yet.

What we're working on right now is an integrated solution; a projector/computer/sensor that is all one happy thing instead of three separate development kits.

"Where are you in development?"

We have developed a viable, affordable prototype. It is bright enough for a child's room and makes a big enough interactive surface to engage a child's whole body when playing. The inside components are defined and we know how they should be arranged to make everything nice and safe and compact.

Having said that, the case is not very attractive. Part of the funding we receive will be used to engage a product design agency to make the LUMO fixture itself really slick, with custom covers themed for boys, girls, nerds, kids whole love airplanes or trains, and other options. The cover choices will be limitless.

The rest of the funding will be used to:

Finalize the engineering schematics for the final product

Beta test and iterate the user experience on the creation tools for kids and the content management system

Optimize new games and effects

Engage experts to help design educational experiences for different age ranges, disabled children, and the elderly

Getting product certifications

Currently we are finalizing the following processes:

Logo and package design

Designing the supply chain process

Tooling

Materials procurement

Production

"How does LUMO work?"

LUMO contains a tiny but powerful microprocessor that receives motion data from a sensor. The motion data is used to change the display sent to the projector based on where and how your child is moving.

"How bright is LUMO?"

LUMO is 200 lumens, bright enough to show up clearly on a light colored floor.

"Will LUMO work on carpet and hardwood floors?"

Yes, LUMO works best on light colored hardwood or low pile carpet. You can also use a throw rug or interlocking white foam tiles as a temporary floor cover if your floor is dark (the tiles are great for buffering the noise of eager little jumping feet). We would be happy to recommend a solution if you need help.

"How big is the projection? How much floor space does LUMO need?"

LUMO is designed to be suspended from a distance of 8-10 feet (it can go as high as 12). The size of the display depends on exactly how high up LUMO is suspended. The average size of the display is around 6' x 8'

"How long will LUMO last?"

The LUMO prototype has a bulb life of 30,000 hours. We are exploring ways to extend it, but right now your child can play with LUMO for an hour a day for over 80 years.

"What are the power requirements for LUMO?"

The LUMO Prototype consumes 20-50W (depending if it is being used as an ambient light or as a projector). It uses less power than a typical 100W bulb, and lasts far longer. And obviously it's a whole heck of a lot cooler.

"Why are you only making 150 LUMOS? WHAT IF YOU RUN OUT BEFORE I GET ONE??"

We are extremely conscious of the importance of fulfilling our pledges, and we are only making enough LUMOS and other perks to absolutely cover the cost of pledge fulfillment. Once we reach our goal, it is possible that we will add another pledge tier for people who still want a LUMO, but we can't promise it. You probably don't want to take that chance - get yours now.

Stickers are die cut and sticky. Put them on your wallet, your car, or your cat (but only if your cat is into that).

Waterproof stock. 12" x 18". "Nevermind that it's floating and pieces are falling off... If the clouds are happy you're in the right place." - Meg Athavale, CEO

Only available in black, but since black goes with everything it's the perfect addition to any wardrobe. Let us know your size when you pledge.

This DIY, software only version of LUMO works with almost any computer, projector and web camera. Includes the following 8 games and effects:

Games: Greedy Gators, Hockey, Soccer, Kitty Bling

Effects: Magic Flower Field, Confetti, Koi Pond, Bunnies

Hardware Requirements:

Windows (XP or higher) or Mac (OSX) - dual core processor recommended. 3D effects (Koi Pond) run best on a quad-core processor. USB web-camera. XGA native projector (4:3 aspect ratio - not widescreen). Video cable to connect the display device to your computer. Usually this is either VGA, HDMI or DVI

A complete plug and play LUMO in time for Christmas 2014, including the mounting hardware and remote and 12 amazing games and effects.

We don't have a photo yet because we are prototyping different cases for the fixture. We have the guts all worked out, but you may have noticed that it currently looks like a patio lantern (the inside is really pretty though).

As a donor, you will have the opportunity to vote on the final look of the fixture.

This model is plug-in only, and is ideal for people who want to move their LUMO around or who don't want the option to hard wire the LUMO into their light fixture.

We will make every effort to provide alternate voltage versions for donors outside North America, but at this time we can only promise that the equipment we are using will work using an adapter for your local voltage.

The final, wonderfully packaged plug and play LUMO, including 12 games and effects and an account to make as many games as you want for a month. Includes a remote and mobile app to change effects, an ambient light setting so it can be used as a normal light as well as an interactive projector, and 12 games and effects.

We don't have a photo yet because we are prototyping different cases for the fixture. We have the guts all worked out, but you may have noticed that it currently looks like a patio lantern from the outside. We prefer the UFO look ourselves.

As a donor, you will have the opportunity to vote on the final look of the fixture.

This model is designed to be hardwired as a light fixture, but there is also an option for the plug-in variety if you prefer that.

We throw great parties. Epic parties. Let us throw you a party to celebrate your awesomeness. You tell us what you want, we'll fly you (and your child, if you have one) to Winnipeg, and we'll treat you to an unforgettable day and night planned especially for you. You will also receive your choice of the first available LUMO or a final production model and we will make a game with you, which you can show off at your party.

Please note that this pledge level is open to North American residents only and you must be able to travel to Canada (we'll cover your flight and accommodations). If you are super eager to party before the LUMO is complete, you will receive one afterwards. With our love. Because we will be great friends by then.

Meghan Athavale, CEO

Curtis Wachs, CTO

Zach Zahradnik, CFO

Ed Richmond (not pictured), Chairman of the Board

Keith Otto, PHP and Unity Developer

Matt Gillies, Hardware Integration

Joss Le Leannec, Designer

Dave Kelly (not pictured), Java Developer

Thea Hughes, Beta Tester and LUMO Ambassador

Still have a question? Ask us anything.

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