I am almost done with my bar project using your interactive boards. I can't wait to post the pics...

While testing my progress I noticed the cool effect of flashing the overhead halogen lights.
The whole bar lights up then settles down.
If i flash the overhead light on and off really quickly I can even see the two different (combined) quadrants.
It's pretty cool.
My question is- Since these work with IR LEDs could I build some sort IR LED overhead light fixture with a momentary button to make the bar flash the same way with invisible light?
Maybe even a row as long as the bar with multiple IR LEDS set up with a timer for chase/wave pattern or strobe patterns!
I guess i could experment with the extra components you graciously provided, but i figured i'd ask if it would work first...

Yes, overhead IR LEDs could be used to trigger the panels; you might need pretty bright ones. Small changes in targeted incandescent lighting can also produce the same effect. Also, a remote control (like for a TV) can produce reaction in the panels.

Now that I'm done with the LED Bar I'm ready for my next project.
I want to use my ATmega168 Mini Dev Kit to chase some IRLEDs- maybe the bigger ones here-
http://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.ir%20led
I'm new to all of this, but I have (of course) seen everything under the sun arduino related.
I'm starting ladyada's excellent tutorial now. I'm going to have to learn (or fake) some programming but first I need to wire up my board.
Multiple chase patterns with adjustable, speed etc is my goal, however I'm open to any chase sequence. Do you know of any chase/wash/strobe schematics (or open source code or projects) using the 168?
Should I just dive in using my ATmega168 and a plethora of aurdino tutorials or should I just go simple and build a modified pumpkin cylon?

We've actually done a number of LED projects with the ATmega168, (including the Peggy 2.0 and Meggy Jr projects, if you want to add extra hardware).

Here's a good and extensible starter project: http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/lissajous/

that is perfect!
I don't know how I missed it.
Aurdinwho?
Maybe I'll use a 3watt star board. It runs on 1.5-1.7V DC.
I just want the brightest possible light.
I'll add the buttons for frequency adjustments also.
Where's a good place to get the programing cable?
Can I just cut an old usb cable?

Which kind of programmer you need depends on your hardware setup. Assuming that you're still using the ATmega168 mini dev kit that you mentioned earlier, we recommend the USBtinyISP programmer from Adafruit. (Link goes to our review of it.) I suspect that the 3 W laser is seriously overkill. It's also some effort to provide a power source that can drive that. It's also not good for your eyes; it's damned bright but your eyes don't know to close down the iris. The sensors are actually quite sensitive to pure infrared sources; try with a TV remote control to see how little power is needed. (A TV remote blinks like crazy, but the sensors will still respond a bit.)

great review/product/site.
60$ later I got some goodies on the way! (backordered)
Ok,OK I don't want anyone going blind- I'll use the regular 5mm ones.
Happy Holidays!
(I hope that's a peggy under the tree...)

I ordered my IR LEDs and found this cool IR LED flashlight for five bucks!
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2047
I'm going to go ahead and build the lissajous pendulum with regular LEDs to test and tweak, then I'll swap them for the IR LEDs.
What pin on my avr would I attach the button to slow down the frequency?

>What pin on my avr would I attach the button to slow down the frequency?

Pins C0-C5 are a good choice for places to add buttons; you'll need to make some changes to the program to use the buttons, of course.