# Ep 358: Soft Displays, LCD Apertures, and Mind Controlled Toys

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2026-02-20
- Length: 52m
- Episode: 358
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-02-20-ep-358-soft-displays-lcd-apertures-and-mind-controlled-toys
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2026/02/20/hackaday-podcast-episode-ep-358-soft-displays-lcd-apertures-and-mind-controlled-toys/

## Summary

Elliot Williams and Jenny List discuss the upcoming Hackaday Europe event in Lecco, Italy, and review several hardware hacks, including Enrique Ferrolo's real-time 3D room mapping using an ESP32 and VL53L5CX sensor, Ancient's LCD aperture adapter, and Soy Boy's microfluidic display. They also cover Alan Reiner's multimaterial 3D printed scissor jack, Ducal Head's CRT-based VR headset, and Yana's GPU-optimized antennas. The episode concludes with a discussion on mind-controlled toys by Neurosky and Al Williams' treatise on writing verifiable requirements for AI and engineering.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-02-20-ep-358-soft-displays-lcd-apertures-and-mind-controlled-toys#t=5) Introduction: Hackaday Europe in Lecco and Sound Challenge
- [7:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-02-20-ep-358-soft-displays-lcd-apertures-and-mind-controlled-toys#t=462) Enrique Ferrolo's 3D Room Mapping with VL53L5CX and IMU
- [14:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-02-20-ep-358-soft-displays-lcd-apertures-and-mind-controlled-toys#t=844) Ancient's LCD Aperture and Soy Boy's Microfluidic Display
- [21:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-02-20-ep-358-soft-displays-lcd-apertures-and-mind-controlled-toys#t=1316) Alan Reiner's Multimaterial 3D Printed Scissor Jack
- [27:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-02-20-ep-358-soft-displays-lcd-apertures-and-mind-controlled-toys#t=1630) Ducal Head's CRT VR Headset and Yana's GPU Antennas
- [38:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-02-20-ep-358-soft-displays-lcd-apertures-and-mind-controlled-toys#t=2300) Quick Hacks: Scotch Tape Lenses, 3D Printed PCBs, and Fart Mapping
- [43:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-02-20-ep-358-soft-displays-lcd-apertures-and-mind-controlled-toys#t=2603) Mind Controlled Toys: Neurosky and the Mind Flex Game
- [49:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-02-20-ep-358-soft-displays-lcd-apertures-and-mind-controlled-toys#t=2958) Al Williams on Requirements, Specifications, and AI

## Topics

- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Hackaday Europe (other)
- Lecco (other)
- Polytechnico Milano (other)
- ESP32 (chip)
- VL53L5CX (chip)
- Enrique Ferrolo (other)
- Ancient (other)
- Nokia 5100 (product)
- Soy Boy (other)
- Alan Reiner (other)
- PETG (material)
- TPU (material)
- Hexspace (company)
- Puser XL (product)
- Ducal Head (other)
- Sony Watchman (product)
- Yana (other)
- Neurosky (company)
- Mind Flex (product)
- Al Williams (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [ESP32 iPod, Super Fast E-Ink, Generative AI on the Edge, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-10-25-esp32-ipod-super-fast-e-ink-generative-ai-on-the-edge-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Amazing hacks, singing MCUs, Raspberry Pi AI camera, tiny robot ESP32 devboards, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2024-10-03-amazing-hacks-singing-mcus-raspberry-pi-ai-camera-tiny-robot-esp32-devboards-and) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Productive Pi Hacks, Amazing Arduino Inventions, New Hardware Galore!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-07-27-productive-pi-hacks-amazing-arduino-inventions-new-hardware-galore) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Orange Pi 3B Released, Nordic Thingy:53 Giveaway, Touchscreen E-Ink kits, and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-08-10-orange-pi-3b-released-nordic-thingy-53-giveaway-touchscreen-e-ink-kits-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [1 Inch HDMI Second Screen, Retro Wall Art, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-04-06-1-inch-hdmi-second-screen-retro-wall-art-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)

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