Google open-sources AnyPixel, which lets anyone program interactive displays

Google today is open-sourcing its AnyPixel software for programming interactive displays like the one in the lobby of its New York City office. Hardware and software libraries and example apps are available now on GitHub.

“We wanted to build something cool for the new lobby in our New York City office, something that was big, could display a lot of interesting stuff, and (most importantly) was really fun to play and interact with,” Richard The of the Google Creative Lab wrote in a blog post. “A giant screen would have been pretty easy, but touching a screen just isn’t that much fun. So we went with something a little different: six thousand light-up arcade buttons acting as interactive pixels, controlled through a web page.

“Then we had a thought. Wouldn’t it be even more fun if all developers, coders, and makers could build their own display running apps they created for it?”

This is the same same Google Creative Lab that came up with a job application form that instructed candidates to improve the design of the Google homepage. And indeed, this is just as interesting of a project that could inspire work outside Google.

Google regularly open-sources software, as do other major web companies like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Other recent Google releases include Parsey McParseFace, TensorFlow, and EarlGrey.