A recent xkcd thread mentioned that there are modular circuit kits available for implementing the Game of Life which display the Life board on a grid of LEDs. These modules can be connected together to make a larger board. The supplied software initializes the board with a random pattern, but the software is Open Source, so it shouldn't be too hard to change that, but I guess the circuit will need to be changed to enable pattern setting. See here for details: http://makezine.com/gol/.
Here's an alternative system, using the Arduino to do the processing.
Some short videos of various Life circuits in action:
http://www.ladyada.net/make/conway/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4A_0j5tMWM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYK70hFKFMo
Notice that the pattern is programmable on the Arduino system.
Has anyone here played with these, or other, Life circuits?
Game of Life Hardware
Re: Game of Life Hardware
It looks like the hardware is the easiest part. Students have tried with building windows at night. One could try with cars lights in an outdoor movie theater, or just people standing/sitting. What you can have with arduino, connecting things and ideas, is fascinating. Tried pachube ?