A scalable physical environment, built using Python and Arduino, is described here. The possible uses are numerous, and the system has been used to teach about color theory, music theory, electronic lighting, and immersive environments. The hardware components are available to the public, and the source code produced is available, so exhibit visitors can duplicate certain elements of the system on their own, and experiment with the technology.
The exhibit equipment currently consists of one RGB LED tetrahedron (six feet tall), three full color RGB stage lights, three full color 3D RGB LED cubes, and one LED assisted bass guitar.
Visitors usually interact with the equipment, creating immersive environments, in one of two ways:
1) They press keys on a computer keyboard corresponding to musical chords. The chords sound out, and corresponding lights are activated, one color per note. Music can then be played and the visitors can play along with the song. By doing so, they learn about color theory, music theory, and song structure. Some visitors can play the LED assisted bass guitar, which shows visitors which frets should be played.
2) They press keys on a computer keyboard to add colors to a list, or to empty the color list. A musical track is played in the background, and the exhibit lights change color in rhythm with the music.
This system is sometimes promoted as "the world's easiest musical instrument". The LED devices can be used to express a variety of colors, patterns, musical chords, rhythms, themes, codes, and emotions.