BTK Labs Thought Generator
Role: Solo Developer
Skills: Web Development, Local AI Infrastructure, Hardware Integration, Physical Prop Design
Overview
A physical interactive computer terminal built as a centerpiece display for a themed Halloween party. Styled as a retro laboratory workstation, the terminal invites guests to type any thought or concept and watch it materialize on screen through AI image generation—blending tangible prop design with cutting-edge generative AI.
How It Works
The terminal runs a lightweight web server that communicates with a separate GPU-equipped computer running Flux, a local AI image generation model. When a guest enters a prompt, the request is sent to the GPU server, which generates the image and syncs the result back to the terminal display in real-time.
Key Features
Seamless Generation Pipeline: Web interface handles prompt submission while offloading compute-intensive image generation to dedicated GPU hardware, keeping the user experience responsive.
Retro Laboratory Aesthetic: Physical terminal designed to match the sci-fi lab theme, creating an immersive interaction point that felt native to the party environment.
Local AI Processing: Flux model runs entirely on local hardware—no cloud dependencies, faster generation times, and full control over the output.
Reception
The terminal became a focal point of the event. Guests repeatedly returned to experiment with new prompts, with many unable to pull themselves away as they explored the boundaries of what they could conjure on screen.
Tech Stack
Frontend: Web-based prompt interface
Backend: Local server bridging terminal to GPU workstation
AI Model: Flux (local image generation)
Hardware: Dedicated GPU compute server, custom terminal display
