Awesome Dot Matrix

Govee specializes in RGB LED light kits. Their curtain lights can display patterns on a grid of 520 teardrop-shaped light beads. The Govee mobile app includes more than 80 scene presets, music sync, and the ability to upload animated GIFs. They’re also rated IP65 waterproof so that you can use them outside. Chris Maher’s in-depth review shows them in action.

Maker Ivan Miranda wanted to build a mechanical clock that uses marbles to show the time. He created an elevator that lifts marbles and drops them into a track. He used light sensors to detect white marbles and solenoids to release the right ones to display dot-matrix digits. It’s a work in progress, but it’s already impressive. Watch part one of the build here.

Ryder Calm Down loves to make things. Inspired by how dot-matrix printers lay down ink, he built an oversized print head that attaches to the back of his pickup truck and sprays out water droplets at the right time to create letters and numbers. The system uses a Raspberry Pi to control relays and solenoids that open and close valves.

The Tidbyt is a desktop screen that can display a variety of useful information on a grid of colorful LED dots. It has a large library of apps including clocks, weather, stocks, news, sports scores, animations, and more. Built on an open ecosystem, you can create your own custom apps, or even flash the firmware for custom projects.

Dot-matrix displays are typically made using LEDs or LCDs mounted directly at the location of each dot. Elliot Made created this unique and fascinating display using a grid of LEDs mounted a short distance away, then channels light to each dot using fiber optics. It can display text, digits, animations, and also works as a clock.