Step 10: Test FTIR

So the LEDs are hooked up and working, the acrylic surface is set up, and the frame is built. Put all this together and you can test the effect of FTIR.

You don't need blob tracking software to test this. All you need is some program that will show the incoming video. For this test I used iChat, it has a live video and can take snapshots.

The visible filter blocks everything but IR light, so most of the video should be black. The IR should show up when you press down on the acrylic. You might want to turn any overhead lights off because they more often than not put out some IR light. This won't interfere much with the FTIR but will give you background light. Eventually a projection screen will help block out this ambient IR light, but for now just turn the lights off.

If all is well then your video from the camera should look similar to this.



At this point you will know if your setup is really working or not. If it is not working then you need to troubleshoot.

Troubleshooting
When troubleshooting if you change something, test it. If that did not fix the problem think through what else might be affecting the result. Change one item at a time and test.

What is the problem concerning?
Lighting, camera, or acrylic? These are the main items that could give you problems.

Lighting - Take your camera out of the frame and look at all your lights again to make sure they are all on. Also check if they are aligned straight into the side of the acrylic.

Camera - Take your camera out of the frame and point it at your lighting frames again. Make sure it is picking up only IR light. I kept one LED hooked up to a battery on hand because I had some problems with my camera lenses shifting around. I believe this was because I removed the IR lens and a small spacer which was between the IR lens and another lens. With most cameras you can also check the settings on your computer, play with the settings to determine optimal lighting.

Acrylic - Look over your acrylic for cracks or imperfections on the edges which may interfere with the light entering. Make sure it is aligned with the LEDs. Look over the silicon sheet for large bubbles, uneven surface and clarity.