What's the term for flashy lights?

[AndyC]

In most old science fiction movies and TV shows that feature computers, the machines usually include a bank of flashing lights. You know the kind. A panel with anywhere from a few to hundreds of little lights that blink in sequence (or randomly). Sort of a jazzed-up imitation of the register lights on an old mainframe console.

I want to build one as part of a case mod project I'm planning. I did something similar a few years back, using half a dozen 555 timer ICs, each in it's own flip-flop circuit, tuned to flash at a slightly different rate. It worked, but it was complicated. A single microcontroller can probably do the same thing with few extra parts. I want to build something small and simple if I can. The problem is that I can't find any schematics for such a thing.

Searching might be easier if I actually knew what the heck it's called. There are plans for various LED flashers, sequencers, etc. around, but nothing for a big, blinking sci-fi computer LED panel, imitation register lights or any other word combination I can think of. There must be a Hollywood term for it. Anybody know?

[Joe]

Blinky Lights? nah but on a more serious note, i dont really know, mabey control panel? i mean i think it depends on the job that the board is intended for.

[Dave M]

I remember I used to have this CD that came free with an issue of Mac World or Mac Addict, that had a HUGE amount of shareware on it, and one program was called "Das Blinken Lights". It just simulated that, kind of like a screensaver.

[Andrew]

Indicator lights?  Test panel lights?  I've never thought of it myself, but they must have a name.

[CheezeFlixz]

Try these ...

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Bill_Bowden/page5.htm#4017-2.gif
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Bill_Bowden/page7.htm#aclamps.gif
http://www.spelektroniikka.fi/kuvat/valojono.pdf

or many links here ...

http://www.hobbyprojects.com/F/Flashers_and_Blinkers.html

[peter johnson]

Flashy lights that run randomly in a circular fashion onstage, usually as part of the footlights, are called, in the industry, Judy Lights, after the late Judy Garland.  I have heard the same term applied to the type of thing you're speaking of, right or wrong.
peter johnson/denny crane

[Rev. Powell]

Did Judy Garland really run around randomly in a circular fashion onstage?  I guess if the device had been invented today, it would be called "Courtney Love" lights.

[Justy]

The only other terms that I can think of that hasn't been offered are Chaser Lights and Sequencing Lights.

[AndyC]

Found plenty of flashers and chasers and sequencers, even Knight Rider lights that go back and forth, but not blinky computer lights. Seems kind of strange, especially when they're so prevalent in popular entertainment. I'm actually amazed people don't appear to include it in case mods, for a retro computer look such as I'm planning.

I'm sure there must be something around, if I knew what to search for. I mean, if people are building a movie set, you'd think they would have some jargon for it, to make communication easier. I can't see somebody asking for "a big panel of blinky lights like they had on old computers." Well, maybe somebody might ask for it, but I can't see it being put on technical drawings or used in communication between the people building and operating the set.

Tried searching for Judy Lights, and only seemed to come up with people named Judy lighting various things, usually candles. It's just really puzzling.

[CheezeFlixz]

Coin your own word/phrase for it ...

Random Illumination Board (R.I.M)
Blinky Light Thing (B.L.T) ... and it taste good too.
Lights That Do Nothing (LTDT)
etc etc

[AndyC]

Coin your own word/phrase for it ...

Not a bad idea, but I'm trying to find plans for building one that are more efficient than what I came up with. For that, I need to know what someone else might call it.

[CheezeFlixz]

Coin your own word/phrase for it ...

Not a bad idea, but I'm trying to find plans for building one that are more efficient than what I came up with. For that, I need to know what someone else might call it.

I posted some links with plans above. There are about a 1000 schematics on them.

I goggled blinky light circuit

[soylentgreen]

Coin your own word/phrase for it ...

Random Illumination Board (R.I.M)
Blinky Light Thing (B.L.T) ... and it taste good too.
Lights That Do Nothing (LTDT)
etc etc

Along the lines of the GNDN piping on Federation starships.

[peter johnson]

Just as not every bad movie made that went to videotape/VHS is available on DVD, not every Industry term is in the glossary on the Internet (All bow and worship!).
Judy Lights were and are a standard term for random floor lighting, usually circular and firing sometimes in sequence.
Find some actual people in the Industry who Grip or Best Boy or otherwise serve the Power that be . . . ask and they shall reveal . . .
peter lord i'm old/denny fossil

[trekgeezer]

You know back in the age of the dinosaur(1979) when I first started working on computers I was quite disappointed when I saw that none of them actually featured those blinking light panels.

If I come with any ideas for you Andy, I'll let you know. I play around with lighting starship models and come across some interesting things on occasion.