LED Throwies, Floaties, and Foldies

The day after the Mooninite Scare (1/31/07) here in Boston, Brainiac reported that the devices being described by journalists as "illuminated plastic figures," "devices dotted with blue, purple, or white lights," "magnetic circuit boards," and so forth, were inspired by the LED Throwie, a device that combines a coin battery, a small LED, and a powerful magnet. The Throwie, which can be easily tossed onto any ferromagnetic surface, was invented by Graffiti Research Lab, an outfit dedicated to providing artists, graffiti artists, and protesters with non-destructive graffiti equipment.

Invented around the same time as the Throwie was another fun device, the LED Floatie, which you make by inserting an LED/battery combo into a balloon, then pumping the balloon full of helium. More recently, Lenore M. Edman, a Sunnyvale, Calif.-based member of the hacking/tinkering collective Evil Mad Scientist, posted instructions to their website (evilmadscientist.com) on making the coolest device yet: an LED Foldie.

The Foldie, which Edman describes rather cryptically (to non-tinkerers, anyway) as "a bridge between papercraft and electronics, or perhaps between etch-at-home printed circuit boards and high-end flex PCBs," is an illuminated paper box.

Why is it so cool? Because the electronic circuit that connects the LED to the battery is made of aluminum foil, ironed onto adhesive paper, then folded up. It's electronics as origami.

Ingenious! But don't carry one of these devices into Logan Airport.

Detailed instructions also available at Edelman's Flickr photoset devoted to Foldies.