“This instructables show how to use an ESP8266 and some NeoPixels to create an IoT Emoji Sign.
ESP8266 dev board
Any ESP8266 board should be ok. This time I am using WeMos D1 Mini Pro, this is smallest and thinnest dev board I can find. If you want it portable, choose a board with Lipo support.
NeoPixels
This project use Arduino Adafruit_NeoPixel library, any compatibles LED chip is ok, such as WS2812, WS2812B, SK6812, SK6812mini … etc.
This time I am using 64 LED chips of SK6812mini to make a tiny 8x8 matrix panel. But the soldering work is not the main job of this project, you can use a LED strip to simplify the job or even direct buy a 8x8 NeoPixel LED Matrix ;>
Sign Stand
This time I am using a micro USB metal flexible tube cable as a sign stand.”