Embedded LED Pong Table


There are few things that are enduring and axiomatic in life, but one of the things on our short list is love of Pong. Designer [Moritz Waldemeyer] apparently shares our obsession: you may remember the LED-lined stage uniforms he designed for OK Go, but this concept for a Pong table is certainly older and arguably several times more awesome.

The Corian table was commissioned in 2006 by DuPont. Inside the table are 2,400 red LEDs and a touch sensor on either end. The trackpads control the motion of the paddles and the LEDs display the paddles’ positions as well as the position of the ball. Since the LEDs are completely embedded, it can still be used as just a table. It was recently displayed in a MOMA exhibit called Design and the Elastic Mind.

[Waldemeyer] also created a matching LED mirror using similar specs. The mirror’s design closely resembles that of the table, but instead of using trackpads for input, it uses a webcam mounted on the top. The image of anything in front of it is captured by the camera and displayed as a “reflection” by varying LEDs’ intensities.


Earlier this year he revealed a simple mini SMD POV he designed for FLOS. Only 500 were produces, so you probably won’t be able to get your hands on one. Since the pong table is one-of-a-kind and part of a touring design installation, your chances are even slimmer there.

[via Gizmodo]

7 thoughts on “Embedded LED Pong Table

  1. I wonder if you can see the LEDs through the table if you look closely enough.

    Doesn’t the table need a full LED matrix in the middle to display all possible ball positions? This would mean it could also show images.

  2. maybe a High Molecular Density plastic on the surface
    (looks white at a 16th of an inch thick, and an LED would make it through when lit) and some tri-color LEDs would make it worth while. if you have the time and money… but you could use an LED based multi-touch interface and a small form factor PC to make it into a giant iphone analog.

    http://www.cs.nyu.edu/~jhan/ledtouch/index.html (LED multi-touch)

  3. I would like to see an entirely LED dependent version. LEDs might have also been used for a trackpad. I’m just spitballin’ since they can sense reflected light as well as emit light.

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