GlideGlow is a project developed by a team of six third-year electrical engineering students with the aim of creating a project that encompasses art and technology.

The Glide Glow project, undertaken as part of the ENEL 400 course at the University of Calgary, is an innovative blend of art and technology designed to create an interactive experience. Glide Glow is a tabletop that responds to touch and shadow, lighting up under the user's interaction with a magical array of LEDs. This project integrates capacitive sensors, programmable LEDs, and Bluetooth connectivity to create a seamless and engaging user interface.

Our journey began with a simple yet ambitious idea: to transform a regular coffee table into an interactive piece of art. We aimed to create a table that not only illuminates but also reacts to the user's presence, whether it's the glide of a hand or the placement of a coffee mug. This required us to delve deep into the realms of hardware and software integration, working with capacitive sensors to detect touch and proximity, and programming LEDs to respond with intricate lighting patterns.

One of the key challenges we faced was ensuring smooth communication between the sensors and the LEDs while maintaining a responsive and reliable user experience. Through countless iterations and extensive testing, we refined our design to achieve the perfect balance of sensitivity and accuracy. Additionally, we developed a mobile application to enhance user interaction, allowing users to control and customize the lighting effects via Bluetooth.

The Glide Glow project not only tested our technical skills but also emphasized the importance of teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. It was a journey filled with late nights, collaborative brainstorming, and the satisfaction of seeing our vision come to life.

In the end, Glide Glow stands as a testament to our creativity, technical prowess, and ability to push the boundaries of conventional design. It is more than just a table; it is an experience, a conversation starter, and a demonstration of what can be achieved when innovative thinking meets dedicated teamwork.