Funded!
Wow! Thanks everyone, for making my day!
I was up late working on CAD last night (see below), and trying to figure out how to keep TJ*s momentum going. Then, the KickStarter newsletter came out, and we went from 60% funded to 200% in about an hour! TJ* and I are really floored by the outpouring of support, and we can't wait to hear all of your cool ideas for expanding him!
Here's a picture of Hipster TJ* - he feels really cool now that he's a funded project!
I'd love to hear the ideas you guys have for expanding TJ*! What are you planning to do with yours?
- Jeff
355
Backers
$40,281
pledged of $2,560 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Mar 16, 2012 -
Apr 14, 2012
(29 days)
- First created · 5 backed
- Jeff Kessler 835 friends
Pledge $5 or more
19 backers
FRIEND OF TJ* -- Thanks for your support! You’ve helped bring TJ* to life, and he’s a loyal guy. I'll send you a link to a thank you web page, where live, working TJ* will thank you for your support and you’ll be listed as a backer!
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $10 or more
12 backers
TJ* KNOWS YOUR NAME -- I’ll shoot a video of TJ* personally thanking you by name and put it on TJ*s web page (or email it to you directly, if you prefer).
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $15 or more
9 backers
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT -- You’ve got stories to tell. TJ* and I will shoot an up-to-1 minute video with your script and your storyboard (up to 4 shots)! For an extra $5 we can afford to hire two TJ* actors (in different colors). Start writing your IMDB bio!
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $16 or more
1 backer All gone!
YOU LIGHT UP TJ*S LIFE -- Add this to any TJ* kit order for light-up controllable LED eyes! Your choice of color, selectable by survey.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $30 or more
1 backer All gone!
DRESS TJ* UP IN YOUR LOVE -- Add this to any TJ* kit order for a hand-made paper skin! Your choice of colors for head, jaw, and accessories, selectable by survey.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $50 or more
102 backers
A TJ* KIT - FOR ELECTRONICS MAKERS -- This option is for people who already have an Arduino. I’ll send you a fully-fabricated TJ* with the 3 drive servos installed. You'll have full access to a ‘How to set up TJ* with Arduino’ guide. Add $10 for plastic instead of MDF, and $10 more for international shipping.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $90 or more
17 backers
CONVERSATION KIT - FOR ELECTRONICS MAKERS -- Prevent TJ* from getting lonely and save a buck or two! Order 2 of the above TJ* units. Add $18 for plastic instead of MDF, and $20 for international shipping.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $120 or more
111 backers
A COMPLETE TJ* KIT -- I’ll send you a working TJ* with 3 drive servos installed and a controller including an Arduino Uno and all the electronics to run him. All you need to add is a power source, which you probably have lying around the house already. TJ* will work virtually out of the box! Add $10 for plastic instead of MDF, and $10 more for international shipping.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $200 or more
8 backers
COMPLETE TJ* CONVERSATION KIT -- Prevent TJ* from getting lonely and save a buck or two! Order 2 of the above TJ* units. Add $18 for plastic instead of MDF, and $20 for international shipping.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $256 or more
57 backers
EMOTIVE TJ* + A COMPLETE TJ* KIT -- I’ll ship you everything in a “Complete TJ* Kit” and, when I develop TJ*s next two degrees of freedom (brow raise/lower and mouth smile/frown), I’ll send you a “Brainless” Emotive TJ* and any extra electronics you need to run Emotive TJ* on the Arduino from the Complete kit.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
Comments
Creator Tommy on March 25, 2012
Hope there's an easy to use API so I'll be able to hook up to it from Windows to my Arduino, otherwise I'll work on making one myself. And like Jeff above I hope to connect with some of our face tracking software, and I've also got work with virtual heads so I can compare the two.
Creator Jeff Kessler on March 23, 2012
Some great ideas from KickStarter user Chad:
"If TJ is directly connected to a computer using a servo controller, using a web page and a webcam directed towards TJ, you could have a website where people upload text and TJ says it into the webcam. you might want a bad language filter :-)
You could have pre-programmed expressions etc, ie: surprise, downcast etc.
There also are a number of webcam face tracking packages to interface to servos etc.
The output from the facetracker software is mapped to a virtual joystick then the Virtual joystick controls the servos via a usb servo controller.
http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/
http://www.free-track.net/english/
You then can duplicate the effect of logitech's facetracker virtual avatar with a real puppet so it syncs to your face, eyebrows etc just like ILM Industrial Light and Magic do in the movies :-)."
Thanks Chad!
Creator Jeff Kessler on March 23, 2012
Great ideas, Richard! Initially all of the paper skins were going to be hand-crafted, but since there's been so much response I'll definitely look into a more manufactured (but still high quality) version. As for releasing the patterns, I'm still figuring that out. I'll keep you posted!
Creator Richard Beck on March 23, 2012
Congrats!
Can you make the template for the paper skin available if we want to design our own?
It woul be good for Halloween, Sports, and other themed TJ's?
A flat top, ala Frankenstein TJ and an alien, bulbouse cranium TJ as well as a mohawk TJ could be fun options.
Creator Jeff Kessler on March 23, 2012
Hey Marcus, This is the development model for Emotive TJ*. I'm hoping to make this platform part of the standard TJ* kit too - I just have to make sure we're OK in terms of material cost!
Creator Marcus Frasier on March 22, 2012
Is this more robust version what we're getting or another future TJ*?
Creator Peter Aweeky on March 22, 2012
Congrats, I would love to see remote control via Bluetooth from IOS and Android phones.
Creator Steven Draper on March 22, 2012
dang that was quick i just saw it as just under the mark...sweet i think your gonna get alot of backers!
Creator Ross Turk on March 22, 2012
Glad to hear it. Man, those newsletters sure are effective!
Creator Michael Defeo on March 22, 2012
congrats!!