Borg Assimilation

The Borg Assimilation mode uses LCARdS core systems to tranform the entire dashboard interface into a Borg-assimilated state:

Palette shift — the UI colour palette is pushed toward Borg yellow-green (HSL ~110°) system-wide. The hue is configurable via the paletteHue option (or the Palette Hue control in the Config Panel).
Font swap — all LCARS text switches to the lcards_borg typeface
Canvas intro — a full-screen Borg lattice animation plays: signal corruption flicker, glowing injection sites with a gentle breathing pulse, and growing Bézier tendrils spreading across the viewport. The animation runs in a dedicated Web Worker on an OffscreenCanvas to keep the main thread (and LCARS UI) fully responsive.
Click-to-dismiss — the intro stays on screen until the user clicks anywhere on the canvas (or until an optional timeout expires). After dismissal, persistent layers activate.
Persistent layers — after the intro is dismissed, zero or more SEM presets remain active per slot (default: glitch on canvas + subtle green colour tint on color + saturation boost on backdrop)

Calling deassimilate() plays a brief glitch outro, then cleanly reverts palette, font, and all screen effects.

Layers format

All three stages — intro, persistentLayers, and outroLayers — accept the same layers dict that lcards.trigger_effect uses:

{
  canvas:   { preset: 'scanlines', opacity: 0.2 },   // SEM canvas slot
  backdrop: { preset: 'blur', amount: '8px' },        // SEM backdrop slot
  color:    { preset: 'color-tint', color: 'rgba(0,40,0,0.1)' }, // SEM color slot
}

Each key is an SEM slot name; the value is { preset, ...params }. Unknown slots are ignored.

intro.canvas is special — the canvas slot during the intro is always hardcoded to the borg-assimilation preset. Any preset key you include in intro.canvas is silently stripped. All other keys are forwarded as effect params.
Naming convention: the JavaScript console API uses camelCase (siteCount, tendrilsPerSite, glowColor). The HA service YAML layer (intro_layers.canvas) accepts either snake_case (site_count, tendrils_per_site, glow_color) or camelCase — both are normalised before being sent to the browser.

SEM preset reference

All available presets for the backdrop, color, and canvas slots — and every parameter each accepts — are documented in Screen Effects → Preset Reference. For the Borg assimilation feature, the most relevant presets are:

canvas: borg-assimilation (intro), scanlines, glitch, static
color: color-tint, vignette
backdrop: blur

Console API

Open the browser developer tools (F12) on any LCARdS dashboard and use the browser console:

// Begin assimilation — intro stays until clicked (all defaults)
window.lcards.borg.assimilate()

// Auto-dismiss the intro after 10 seconds (user can still click to dismiss early)
window.lcards.borg.assimilate({ duration: 10000 })

// Full custom call
window.lcards.borg.assimilate({
  duration: 10000,              // ms — auto-dismiss timeout; 0 = click-to-dismiss only
  transitionStyle: 'blur_fade', // palette transition: 'flash'|'fade_only'|'blur_fade'|'off'

  // Intro layers — shown during the canvas animation, cleared on dismiss
  intro: {
    canvas:   { siteCount: 12, tendrilsPerSite: 10, tendrilLength: 800, particleCount: 3 }, // params for the borg-assimilation effect
    backdrop: { preset: 'blur', amount: '6px' },       // optional extra layer behind the canvas
    color:    { preset: 'color-tint', color: 'rgba(0,60,0,0.15)' }, // optional colour overlay
  },

  // Persistent layers — applied after intro is dismissed, held until deassimilation
  persistentLayers: {
    canvas: { preset: 'scanlines', lineHeight: 3, opacity: 0.20, scroll: 2 },
    color:  { preset: 'color-tint', color: 'rgba(0, 60, 0, 0.12)' },
  },
})

// Shift the palette to blue instead of Borg green
window.lcards.borg.assimilate({ paletteHue: 240 })

// Suppress all persistent layers — just palette + font change, no lingering effects
window.lcards.borg.assimilate({ persistentLayers: {} })

// Check current state
window.lcards.borg.status   // → true while assimilated

// Revert everything (with default glitch outro)
window.lcards.borg.deassimilate()

// Immediate silent revert (no outro)
window.lcards.borg.deassimilate({ withOutro: false })

// Custom outro layers + transition
window.lcards.borg.deassimilate({
  outroLayers: {
    canvas: { preset: 'glitch', duration: 800, intensity: 0.6 },
    color:  { preset: 'color-tint', color: 'rgba(0,255,80,0.4)', duration: 800 },
  },
  revertTransitionStyle: 'fade_only',
})

// Shortcut alias on the alert namespace
window.lcards.alert.borg()

`assimilate(opts?)` options

Option	Type	Default	Description
`duration`	`number` (ms)	`0`	Auto-dismiss the intro after this many ms. `0` (default) = click-to-dismiss only.
`transitionStyle`	`string`	`'blur_fade'`	Palette transition style — `'blur_fade'`, `'flash'`, `'fade_only'`, or `'off'`
`intro`	`Object` (layers dict)	`{ canvas: { siteCount: 8, tendrilsPerSite: 5, tendrilLength: 600, particleCount: 2, color: 'var(--lcars-martian)', glowColor: 'var(--lcards-yellow)' }, backdrop: { preset: 'saturate', amount: '200%' }, color: { preset: 'color-tint', color: 'rgba(0,60,0,0.25)' } }`	Layers shown during the intro. Per-slot merged with defaults. `intro.canvas` params override the `borg-assimilation` effect (see `intro.canvas` params below); `intro.backdrop` and `intro.color` are optional extra layers applied alongside the canvas and cleared on dismiss. See Preset Reference for all available presets and params.
`persistentLayers`	`Object` (layers dict)	glitch on `canvas` + color-tint on `color` + saturate on `backdrop`	Layers applied after the intro is dismissed and held until `deassimilate()`. Omit to use defaults; pass `{}` to suppress all persistent effects. See Preset Reference for all available presets and params.
`paletteHue`	`number` (0–359)	`110`	HSL hue the UI palette is shifted toward during assimilation. `110` = Borg yellow-green (default). `240` = blue, `0` or `360` = red. Applied before the palette swap fires. Automatically reset to the built-in default on `deassimilate()`.
`fontSwap`	`boolean`	`true`	Whether to inject the Borg typeface across all dashboard text. Set to `false` to keep the existing font while all other assimilation effects (palette, canvas intro, persistent layers) still run.

`intro.canvas` params (`borg-assimilation` effect)

Param	Default	Description
`siteCount`	`8`	Number of Borg injection sites on screen (1–20)
`tendrilsPerSite`	`5`	Bézier tendrils grown from each injection site (1–24)
`tendrilLength`	`600`	Maximum tendril reach in pixels — longer tendrils span more of the screen (100–1200)
`particleCount`	`2`	Nano-probe particles travelling each tendril and branch continuously. Set to `0` to disable (0–6)
`color`	`'var(--lcars-martian)'`	Tendril and injection site colour (any CSS colour string, supports CSS variables and token expressions)
`glowColor`	`'var(--lcards-yellow)'`	Inner glow colour at each injection site and nano-probe particle halos

`deassimilate(opts?)` options

Option	Type	Default	Description
`withOutro`	`boolean`	`true`	Play outro layers before reverting. Set to `false` for an immediate silent revert.
`outroLayers`	`Object` (layers dict)	`{ canvas: { preset: 'glitch', duration: 1200, intensity: 0.4, opacity: 0.7 } }`	Layers applied as the outro. The longest `duration` value found in any layer's params determines how long to wait before reverting. Falls back to 1200 ms if none are specified. Omit to use defaults. See glitch params for all available options.
`revertTransitionStyle`	`string`	`'fade_only'`	Palette transition back to normal — `'flash'`, `'fade_only'`, `'blur_fade'`, or `'off'`

Sequence of events

When assimilate() is called:

borg_alert palette is applied immediately (HSL hue-shift to ~110°, slightly desaturated and darkened)
lcards_borg font is loaded and injected as a :root CSS override — both fire in parallel (skipped if fontSwap: false)
Intro layers are applied:
- intro.canvas → borg-assimilation effect (signal flicker → injection sites → growing tendrils)
- intro.backdrop and intro.color (if specified) → applied to their SEM slots alongside the canvas
The intro stays visible until the user clicks anywhere on the canvas, or until duration ms elapses (if positive)
All intro layers are cleared (canvas, backdrop, color slots)
persistentLayers are applied to their respective SEM slots and held until deassimilate()

When deassimilate() is called:

_assimilated is set to false immediately — if the intro is still showing, it is cancelled (no click required)
outroLayers are applied to their SEM slots (unless withOutro: false)
The manager waits for the longest duration param across all outro layers (minimum 1200 ms)
Palette is transitioned back to green_alert using revertTransitionStyle
The Borg font override <style> tag is removed from document.head (only if font was injected during assimilation — skipped when fontSwap: false was passed)
All active screen effects are cleared

HA Services

The LCARdS integration exposes two services in the lcards.* namespace that can trigger and clear the Easter egg from automations, scripts, or the Developer Tools → Actions panel.

`lcards.borg_assimilate`

Trigger the Borg assimilation on one or all connected browsers.

Field	Required	Default	Description
`intro_duration`	No	—	Auto-dismiss the intro after this many ms (1000–60000). Omit to use click-to-dismiss.
`site_count`	No	`8`	Number of injection sites on screen (1–20)
`tendrils_per_site`	No	`5`	Bézier tendrils per injection site (1–24)
`tendril_length`	No	`600`	Maximum tendril reach in pixels (100–1200)
`particle_count`	No	`2`	Nano-probe particles per tendril (0–6); `0` disables particles
`transition_style`	No	`blur_fade`	Palette transition: `blur_fade`, `flash`, `fade_only`, `off`
`font_swap`	No	`true`	Set to `false` to skip the Borg font injection — all other effects (palette, canvas intro, persistent layers) still run.
`suppress_persistent`	No	`false`	Suppress all persistent effects after intro. Ignored if `persistent_layers` is also set.
`intro_layers`	No	—	Advanced. Full per-slot layers dict. `intro_layers.canvas` canvas param keys can use either snake_case (`site_count`, `tendrils_per_site`, `glow_color`) or camelCase — both are normalised server-side. Values override the corresponding flat shortcuts; missing keys fall back to the flat values. See Preset Reference for all available presets and params per slot.
`persistent_layers`	No	—	Advanced. Full per-slot layers dict. Overrides `suppress_persistent` when set. Pass `{}` to suppress all. See Preset Reference for all available presets and params per slot.
`target_device_ids`	No	—	List of browser device UUIDs — leave empty for all
`target_device_names`	No	—	List of device display names (resolved server-side)
`target_user_ids`	No	—	List of HA user IDs — leave empty for all
`target_user_names`	No	—	List of HA user display names (case-insensitive)

Broadcast — click-to-dismiss (intro stays until user interacts):

yaml

action: lcards.borg_assimilate

Auto-dismiss after 12 seconds with a gentle fade:

yaml

action: lcards.borg_assimilate
data:
  intro_duration: 12000
  transition_style: fade_only

More injection sites, denser tendrils, longer reach:

yaml

action: lcards.borg_assimilate
data:
  site_count: 12
  tendrils_per_site: 14
  tendril_length: 900
  particle_count: 3

Custom intro — flat shortcuts + blur backdrop via advanced object:

yaml

action: lcards.borg_assimilate
data:
  intro_duration: 10000
  transition_style: blur_fade
  site_count: 12
  intro_layers:
    backdrop:
      preset: blur
      amount: "6px"

Suppress all persistent effects (palette + font change only):

yaml

action: lcards.borg_assimilate
data:
  suppress_persistent: true

Custom persistent layers via advanced object — colour tint only, no scanlines:

yaml

action: lcards.borg_assimilate
data:
  persistent_layers:
    color:
      preset: color-tint
      color: "rgba(0, 60, 0, 0.2)"

Suppress all persistent effects (palette + font change only):

yaml

action: lcards.borg_assimilate
data:
  persistent_layers: {}

Target a specific device:

yaml

action: lcards.borg_assimilate
data:
  intro_duration: 10000
  target_device_names:
    - Living Room TV

In an automation — assimilate all browsers for Halloween, auto-revert after 30 minutes:

yaml

automation:
  - alias: "Halloween Borg Mode"
    trigger:
      - platform: time
        at: "20:00:00"
    action:
      - action: lcards.borg_assimilate
        data:
          intro_duration: 10000
      - delay:
          minutes: 30
      - action: lcards.borg_deassimilate

`lcards.borg_deassimilate`

Reverse the Borg assimilation and restore all browsers to normal.

Field	Required	Default	Description
`with_outro`	No	`true`	Play outro layers before reverting. Set to `false` for an immediate silent revert.
`outro_layers`	No	—	Layers dict for the outro. The longest `duration` param across all layers determines the wait time. Omit for defaults (glitch on canvas, 1200 ms). See glitch params for all available options.
`revert_transition_style`	No	`fade_only`	Palette transition back to normal: `flash`, `fade_only`, `blur_fade`, `off`
`target_device_ids`	No	—	List of browser device UUIDs — leave empty for all
`target_device_names`	No	—	List of device display names (resolved server-side)
`target_user_ids`	No	—	List of HA user IDs — leave empty for all
`target_user_names`	No	—	List of HA user display names (case-insensitive)

Broadcast (restore all connected browsers, default glitch outro):

yaml

action: lcards.borg_deassimilate

Immediate silent revert (no outro):

yaml

action: lcards.borg_deassimilate
data:
  with_outro: false

Custom outro layers:

yaml

action: lcards.borg_deassimilate
data:
  outro_layers:
    canvas:
      preset: glitch
      duration: 800
      intensity: 0.6
  revert_transition_style: fade_only

Targeting

All four standard targeting fields work the same as other lcards.* services:

No targeting fields → broadcast to all connected browsers
target_device_ids → list of UUIDs from localStorage.getItem('lcards_device_id') in each browser
target_device_names → display names set in the LCARdS Config Panel or via ?lcards_device= URL param — non-unique names match all devices sharing that name
target_user_ids → HA user IDs
target_user_names → HA user display names (case-insensitive)

When targeting is used, the global input_select.lcards_alert_mode is not written — the Borg palette change is applied locally on matching devices only and does not persist across reloads.

Notes

The borg_alert palette uses pure HSL math starting from the green_alert baseline — no static palette file is required
Calling assimilate() while already assimilated is a no-op (a warning is logged)
Calling deassimilate() while not assimilated is a no-op (a warning is logged)
Calling deassimilate() during the canvas intro immediately cancels the click-dismiss Promise — the deassimilate sequence proceeds without waiting for user interaction
The canvas intro uses pointer-events: auto while visible; all intro SEM slots (canvas, backdrop, color) are cleared on dismiss so HA UI interaction works normally
The font override injects a <style id="lcards-borg-font-override"> tag on document.head; deassimilate() removes it cleanly — only when fontSwap was true (the default) during the corresponding assimilate() call
window.lcards.alert.borg() is a convenience alias for window.lcards.borg.assimilate()
intro_layers/persistent_layers/outro_layers are object selectors in the HA service — pass them as a YAML mapping, not as a list
When no duration key appears in any outro layer, the manager falls back to 1200 ms before reverting the palette

Borg Assimilation ​

Layers format ​

Console API ​

assimilate(opts?) options ​

intro.canvas params (borg-assimilation effect) ​

deassimilate(opts?) options ​

Sequence of events ​

HA Services ​

lcards.borg_assimilate ​

lcards.borg_deassimilate ​

Targeting ​

Notes ​

Borg Assimilation

Layers format

Console API

`assimilate(opts?)` options

`intro.canvas` params (`borg-assimilation` effect)

`deassimilate(opts?)` options

Sequence of events

HA Services

`lcards.borg_assimilate`

`lcards.borg_deassimilate`

Targeting

Notes